How Many Tanks Does India Have? T-90 Bhishma, T-72 and Arjun
India has one of the largest tank forces in the world, with an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 main battle tanks in service. Most are Russian designs built under licence in India: about 1,600 or more T-90S “Bhishma” and around 2,000 older T-72 “Ajeya”. The home-grown Arjun serves in smaller numbers. After the 2020 clashes with China in Ladakh, India also developed the Zorawar, a light tank designed for the high Himalayas.
This guide covers each of India’s tanks, how many there are and how they compare with those of China and Pakistan.
How many tanks does India have?
India’s armoured corps is organised into armoured divisions and independent armoured brigades, mostly along the border with Pakistan, with growing deployments in Ladakh and Sikkim facing China. Most of its tanks are built at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, near Chennai.
| Tank | Origin | Approx. number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-90S / T-90M Bhishma | Russia, licence-built in India | 1,600+ | Main battle tank; 125mm gun |
| T-72M1 Ajeya | Soviet Union, licence-built | About 2,000 | Older; being upgraded and replaced |
| Arjun Mk1 / Mk1A | India (DRDO) | 124 Mk1; 118 Mk1A ordered | Heavy tank; 120mm rifled gun |
| Zorawar | India (DRDO and L&T) | Prototypes; first orders | Light tank for high-altitude warfare |
| Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) | Planned | About 1,770 planned | Replacement for T-72 from the 2030s |
T-90 Bhishma
The T-90S, known in India as Bhishma, is the backbone of the Indian armoured force. India first bought it from Russia in 2001, after the Kargil war, and has since built most of its fleet under licence at Avadi. It has a 125mm smoothbore gun that can also fire anti-tank missiles, an autoloader and a three-man crew. India is upgrading it with better fire control, night sights and protection, and has deployed T-90s to eastern Ladakh since the 2020 stand-off with China. American tanks are compared in our guide to US tanks.
T-72 Ajeya and Arjun
The T-72 Ajeya is the most numerous tank in Indian service but is now old. The Future Ready Combat Vehicle programme is intended to replace it from the 2030s. The Arjun, designed by DRDO over several decades, is a heavy tank with a 120mm rifled gun and good armour, but it is too heavy for many Indian bridges and the army has bought it only in small numbers: 124 Mk1 tanks and an order for 118 improved Mk1A tanks placed in 2021. Its builder, the Heavy Vehicles Factory, is now part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited.
Zorawar: the mountain tank
The 2020 clashes in Ladakh showed India it needed a tank light enough to be airlifted and agile in thin mountain air. China had already fielded its Type 15 light tank on the Tibetan plateau. The result is the Zorawar, a tank of about 25 tonnes developed by DRDO with Larsen & Toubro, armed with a 105mm gun and able to fire missiles. It was tested in high-altitude trials in 2024 and 2025, and the army plans to buy several hundred. China’s tank force, including the Type 15, is covered in our guide to Chinese tanks.
How does India compare?
India has more tanks than Pakistan, which fields about 2,500 to 2,700, including Chinese-designed Al-Khalid and VT-4 tanks and upgraded T-80UDs bought from Ukraine. China’s tank fleet is of a broadly similar size to India’s but newer on average. India’s challenge is less about numbers than age: much of its fleet is decades old, and the war in Ukraine has shown how vulnerable tanks are to drones and missiles.
Frequently asked questions
How many tanks does India have?
Open-source estimates put India’s fleet at about 3,500 to 4,000 main battle tanks.
What is India’s main tank?
The T-90S Bhishma, a Russian design built under licence in India. India has more than 1,600.
What is the Arjun tank?
A heavy main battle tank designed by DRDO, with a 120mm rifled gun. India has 124 Mk1 tanks and has ordered 118 improved Mk1A tanks.
What is the Zorawar tank?
A light tank of about 25 tonnes developed by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro for high-altitude warfare along the border with China.
Does India have more tanks than Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan has about 2,500 to 2,700 tanks.
Will India replace the T-72?
Yes. The Future Ready Combat Vehicle programme is planned to replace the T-72 from the 2030s.
- Indian Ministry of Defence – Press Information Bureau releases on armoured vehicles: pib.gov.in
- Wikipedia – Zorawar light tank (summary of public reporting): en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia – T-90 in Indian service (summary of public reporting): en.wikipedia.org
