T-90 Bhishma / T-72 Ajeya of Indian Army : News and Discussions
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Indian Army upgrades 'Make in India' 96 T-72 tanks with night-fighting systems
The Indian Army has completed the installation of indigenously manufactured Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) on 96 of its T-72 tanks, with the systems clearing firing validation trials ahead of induction.
The T-72 remains a key component of the Army’s armoured fleet, and the upgrade is aimed at enhancing its operational effectiveness, particularly in low-visibility and night conditions where legacy optical systems face limitations. The new system incorporates thermal imaging and automatic target tracking to improve accuracy and engagement capability.
The upgrade has been carried out by Alpha-Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Systems. The Army signed a contract in 2023 for the supply and installation of 96 TIFCS units.
Company representatives said that while similar systems were earlier supplied directly by the Israeli partner, the current batch has been manufactured in India with technical support from Elbit Systems, in line with the government’s Make-in-India push and defence indigenisation efforts.
The TIFCS enhances the T-72’s night-fighting capability by automatically integrating inputs from external sensors, performing ballistic corrections and feeding refined target data into the fire control system. Its integrated automatic target tracker enables continuous tracking of moving targets, allowing engagement in dynamic combat situations, including at night.
Firing validation trials of the indigenously produced systems were conducted by the Army during November–December 2025, following which installations were completed, the company said.
Alpha-Elsec CEO Nataraj Krishnappa said the MSME, which employs around 120 skilled professionals, has been expanding its footprint in advanced opto-electronic equipment for the armed forces. A portion of its products are also exported to its joint venture partner for onward global supply.
The company said the completion of the order has strengthened its domestic order book, with additional defence contracts in the pipeline. Beyond Army platforms, its electro-optic systems are also deployed by paramilitary forces and in select civilian applications.
The Indian Army has completed the installation of indigenously manufactured Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) on 96 of its T-72 tanks, with the systems clearing firing validation trials ahead of induction.
The T-72 remains a key component of the Army’s armoured fleet, and the upgrade is aimed at enhancing its operational effectiveness, particularly in low-visibility and night conditions where legacy optical systems face limitations. The new system incorporates thermal imaging and automatic target tracking to improve accuracy and engagement capability.
The upgrade has been carried out by Alpha-Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Systems. The Army signed a contract in 2023 for the supply and installation of 96 TIFCS units.
Company representatives said that while similar systems were earlier supplied directly by the Israeli partner, the current batch has been manufactured in India with technical support from Elbit Systems, in line with the government’s Make-in-India push and defence indigenisation efforts.
The TIFCS enhances the T-72’s night-fighting capability by automatically integrating inputs from external sensors, performing ballistic corrections and feeding refined target data into the fire control system. Its integrated automatic target tracker enables continuous tracking of moving targets, allowing engagement in dynamic combat situations, including at night.
Firing validation trials of the indigenously produced systems were conducted by the Army during November–December 2025, following which installations were completed, the company said.
Alpha-Elsec CEO Nataraj Krishnappa said the MSME, which employs around 120 skilled professionals, has been expanding its footprint in advanced opto-electronic equipment for the armed forces. A portion of its products are also exported to its joint venture partner for onward global supply.
The company said the completion of the order has strengthened its domestic order book, with additional defence contracts in the pipeline. Beyond Army platforms, its electro-optic systems are also deployed by paramilitary forces and in select civilian applications.
With this new upgrade of 96, how many T72 in total have night fighting capabilities?, I remember hearing about older upgrades incorporating.
DRDO/BEL TI-NVDs
Israeli TI-NVD's
~700?
As per my limited research:
> 300 units of TISAS in 2003 (guess is very basic ones with 256x1 detector).
> Another 300 units of TISAS with certain "improvements" in 2006, dubbed "TISAS-300" (guess is improved ones with ballistic computers and 288x4 detector).
> 1,000 units of TIFCS in 2013, maybe dubbed "TIFCS-1000" (I don't know if all the units were installed) plus these 96 more in 2023. There's also this "TIFCS-418" which appears in IOL reports, I don't know anything about it except it has something to do with Belarus.
> ESSA-72 at some unknown time. I don't know the total amount but some tenders have requested some parts in 418 units which sounds kinda similar to TIFCS-418. If you don't know what is ESSA-72, it is basically T-90's gunner thermal.
> 2065 units of CTI-T72 Mk.1/2s in 2017 and 2019. I don't know much about the difference between Mk.1 and Mk.2 except some fov changes and that the Mk.2 should be prevalent. I had heard some IOL guy say in some video that as of January 2024, they had delivered 236 units of CTI-T72 Mk.1 and 325 units of CTI-T72 Mk.2 sights. If you don't know, these are retrofit thermal upgrades of the normal TKN-3 commander sights by IRDE and done by BEL/IOL.
No I haven't yet spotted any driver thermals in T-72s and these above are the projected values at the time the deals were signed.
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Yea, my guess is that TIFCS-418 is ESSA-72 or Project 7136 (that should also explain the Belarus involvement). And that these random numbers they add in the last are the total units of a batch.
I do wonder how BEL is doing for their share of the orders. The CTI-T72 Mk.1/2 and CTI-T90 orders are split between IOL/BEL, but I think they would be faring much better.
Regardless, operational Bhishmas are receiving commander thermals.
Like this one was in some exhibition at Patiala (this one is from BEL). And there are also some snaps from army promo videos.
By the way if you guys ever wondered what are those keypad buttons:
Here's some info:
Here's some info:
So, is it safe to assume all T-90s and 1000 T-72 CIA are night fighting and with most hunter killer capable?
The T-90s already have thermals in the form of gunner's ESSA. What additional we have done is that we are retrofitting the existing TKN-4S-01 commander sights with 3rd gen cooled thermal and elrf (and a new reticule) in a form-fit manner and we are also upgrading the ESSA with new third gen 640x512 T2SL detector module cameras (I think these go in the new production Bhishmas since the required quantity was 464) and I think there was also some word on upgrading the 1G46 day sight's lrf's radiator from flash lamp pumped ssl to laser diode pumped ssl (if you don't know, ESSA is slaved to 1G46).
The T-72's didn't have any thermals. You already saw my message which talks about 600 in total TISAS/TISAS-U/TISAS-300 units, 1000+96 TIFCS-1000 units and these ~418 ESSA-72/TIFCS-418 units plus the 2065 units of CTI-T72 Mk.1/2 sights for the commander.
Iff all these deals were or will be perfectly executed, then we can say yes, almost all our T-72s should be having thermals of some type.
Hunter-Killer is nothing new, it just means that the gunner (killer) is the one with the trigger and while he's the prime seeker, the commander (hunter) can also scan for a target and designate the said target to the gunner (by slewing the turret in his own direction). A basic T-72 is already H/K capable (it goes as back as T-54Bs or I think maybe some heavy tanks).
What was relatively newer is, that after sometime, the commander could not only just designate for the gunner but also override the gun control system and fire on his own with his own duplicate controls if need be. You can say it's now Killer/Hunter-Killer or Killer/Killer idk. AGAIN, this is NOT new (started to become common near the end of the last century and is now very very common). But yea our T-72s only got this ability with the TIFCS upgrade which adds a commander override control handle. I think the ESSA-72 should also add some kind of thumbstick or something. Whereas the TISAS ones do not have this ability.
T-90 and Arjun are already hunter/killer-killer or killer-killer (whatever you like) capable.
Here you can see a TIFCS Ajeya commander with his own control display unit and override handle (also notice the CTI-T72 Mk.2 at the back in the first pic). 
In comparison, this is a TISAS Ajeya's commander seat. You can see there is no override stick/handle or anything. He can only designate for the gunner using the CTI-T72 Mk.2s left handle button.
In comparison, this is a TISAS Ajeya's commander seat. You can see there is no override stick/handle or anything. He can only designate for the gunner using the CTI-T72 Mk.2s left handle button.
Thank your for the clear explanation.
I thought Hunter-Killer also means the commander can designate and fire ATGMs at extremely long rage unlike the older tanks. Can you talk about range factor. How do we compare with pakistanis in this?
I don't know much about Pakistani stuff because they don't interest me. But I think we have a lot of Invars and BDL also makes them.
I wanna correct some minor details from previous posts about T-72's thermals.
We currently have 600 Elbit TISAS and 250 Polish PCO SKO-1T on T-72s, which are gunner TIs. ESSA-72 and Sosna U come in small quantities for testing, both lost out to SKO-1T, which is TI + FCS. TISAS is standalone and not integrated with fire control.
The original number for TISAS was 700, but never achieved due to slow progress and lack of integration with FCS.
Then we have 170-300 Elbit TIFACS which are integrated with the fire control. This is the TIFCS 418. The order is still continuing as of today, it's unlikely to achieve the full order of 418.
The successor of TIFACS is the new Alpha + Elbit TIFAS, and we recently upgraded 96 of them out of a total expectation of 1000-1200. Essentially Belarussian components were removed from TIFAS 418 after production delays which led to the cancelation/modification of a larger order.
As for commander sights, only 236 T-72s have received CTI-72 Mk1 upgrade. Mk2 is still pending clarity, probably ground work and testing going on post delivery of Mk2. There are integration and production issues, along with low priority compared to gunner sights. Even the 1000-1200 upgrade has not mentioned anything about CTIs. A derivative is being used on the BMP-2 though. Eventually all BMP-2s will receive this.
Essentially half of the T-72s do not have TIs of any kind today. By 2030, we will have around 1500 with TIFACS/TIFAS. And the remaining 1000 will become unmanned in a separate program as and when FRCV allows releasing tanks. A few hundred (400-450) will be sent into storage or even exported after 2030, once the T-90 Mk3 is fully operational. The long term goal is to retain 1000 manned until 2045+ and whatever number of unmanned until 2055-60.
We currently have 600 Elbit TISAS and 250 Polish PCO SKO-1T on T-72s, which are gunner TIs. ESSA-72 and Sosna U come in small quantities for testing, both lost out to SKO-1T, which is TI + FCS. TISAS is standalone and not integrated with fire control.
The original number for TISAS was 700, but never achieved due to slow progress and lack of integration with FCS.
Then we have 170-300 Elbit TIFACS which are integrated with the fire control. This is the TIFCS 418. The order is still continuing as of today, it's unlikely to achieve the full order of 418.
The successor of TIFACS is the new Alpha + Elbit TIFAS, and we recently upgraded 96 of them out of a total expectation of 1000-1200. Essentially Belarussian components were removed from TIFAS 418 after production delays which led to the cancelation/modification of a larger order.
As for commander sights, only 236 T-72s have received CTI-72 Mk1 upgrade. Mk2 is still pending clarity, probably ground work and testing going on post delivery of Mk2. There are integration and production issues, along with low priority compared to gunner sights. Even the 1000-1200 upgrade has not mentioned anything about CTIs. A derivative is being used on the BMP-2 though. Eventually all BMP-2s will receive this.
Essentially half of the T-72s do not have TIs of any kind today. By 2030, we will have around 1500 with TIFACS/TIFAS. And the remaining 1000 will become unmanned in a separate program as and when FRCV allows releasing tanks. A few hundred (400-450) will be sent into storage or even exported after 2030, once the T-90 Mk3 is fully operational. The long term goal is to retain 1000 manned until 2045+ and whatever number of unmanned until 2055-60.
(1) DRAWA-T/SKO-1T was never purchased. There's not a single pic of this system on Indian T-72s. It was part of the original CVRDE/BEL CIA upgrade but the whole package was axed and only some made the cut (like GPS, ERA, new IFDSS and radios).
(2) DRAWA-T cannot beat ESSA-72 or Sosna-U simply because it uses a backward 1st gen LFPA thermal detector.
(3) If there was a problem in TISAS delivery, it would have been highlighted in parliamentary reports or CAG audits (since these deals were signed in the 2000s which leaves ample amount of time before they stopped publishing the ones concerning defence), which we don't see any.
(4) Elbit TIFCS is TIFCS-1000 and ESSA-72 is TIFCS-418.
(5) Both CTI-T72 Mk.1 and Mk.2s are being delivered and fitted into T-72s and BMP-2s (there's even some pics with BMP-1s). IOL alone had delivered 236 units of CTI-T72 Mk.1 & 325 units of CTI-T72 Mk.2 before January of 2024 and we don't even know of BEL's side.
(5) I am also not sure if "all" the Elbit TISAS and TIFCS were delivered so I will give you the benefit of doubt.
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Here's the link to Drawa-T being contracted. We replaced the older TI in it with an Israeli one supplied by ELOP.
Poland to upgrade India's T-72 tanks for $73 mn - Times of India
World News: LONDON; India has signed a $73 million contract with a Polish firm to upgrade 250 of its T-72 MI main battle tanks, a defence weekly here reported.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
I knew I had it somewhere.
It as part of Project Rhino. Only 250 tanks were upgraded.
The remaining were simply not contracted. Not advanced enough compared to its successor, which comes with full integration with fire control.
You are confused. Both are Israeli. 418 (TIFACS, renamed to TIFCS-418) came with some Belarussian parts, and were replaced with Israeli ones in the bigger 1000 (TIFAS, TIFCS-1000) contract. 418 was contracted between Elbit and India Optel and 1000 was between Elbit and Alpha.
All our T-72s have Israeli TIs.
ESSA-72 failed against Drawa-T. This system is entirely Belarussian and wasn't chosen.
236 went to T-72s and were integrated. The remaining 325 are dealing with some new problem, they are mainly prioritizing TIFAS-1000, so it will be properly taken up next once TIFAS-1000 completes its initial testing stage.
BMP upgrades are going well.
TISAS is as stated, it was superceded by TIFCS-418. And 418 delivery is still ongoing. TIFCS-1000 will be the main TI from here on. 96 are being made operational first as of today.
So 250 Drawa-T with ELOP camera, 600 TISAS, the rest will be Israeli TIFCS, with about 300+ operational with TIFCS-418 alongside 96 of the newer model in testing. Some tiny numers of original ESSA-72 and Sosna-Us originally introduced for testing, probably a squadron's worth each. That's the current status of the T-72's GTIs.
CTIs confirmed at 236, the remaining to be taken up once TIFCS-1000 integration is complete. Utimately all the tanks will have it. CTI is just a lower priority compared to GTI. Just bad timing I guess.
Show me any recent pic of an operational IA T-72 with DRAWA-T? This picture which I have attached is the original CIA upgrade.
They wanted 600 in total and got just that. Of these 600, the second batch of 300 units were inked in 2010 dubbed "TISAS-300" which had "enhanced specifications". There's also TISAS(U) upgrades with some TIFCS elements.
Is there any reference or citation
Well idk, I have very strong reasons to believe ESSA-72 is TIFCS-418 and Elbit TIFCS is TIFCS-1000 which I have mentioned in my older messages. If you have any source for this, then pls send.
First time hearing it, could be true or not, I don't know. But the interiors I have seen so far do have Mk.2s. Then there's also the gripe about what exactly is the difference between Mk.1 and Mk.2, if it's the FOVs (even the BMP one has different figures) or digital/analogue FPA or something else.
A recent Army promo literally shows a T-72 with ESSA-72.
IOL has tenders where they are requesting it's deliverables. Product 7136 is ESSA-72.
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