How India Plans to Turn Ageing T-72 Tanks into Robotic Combat Vehicles for Future Warfare

Indian Army's future unmanned T-72 combat vehicle, showcasing how legacy battle tanks could evolve into remotely operated platforms for high-risk missions under the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) doctrine.

The Indian Army is preparing for one of its most ambitious armoured modernization programs in decades—not by replacing every ageing tank immediately, but by transforming many of its trusted T-72 tanks into remotely operated combat vehicles. This initiative represents a significant shift toward Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), where crewed and autonomous platforms fight together on the modern battlefield.

For more than four decades, the Soviet-origin T-72 Ajeya has served as the backbone of India's armoured corps. Although these tanks remain mechanically reliable, their gradual replacement by the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) is expected over the coming years. Instead of retiring thousands of existing platforms, the Army is exploring a cost-effective approach that could extend their operational life by another 15 to 20 years.

The project is being pursued under the Ministry of Defence's iDEX ADITI 4.0 innovation initiative, which seeks indigenous technology partners capable of converting conventional T-72 tanks into autonomous armoured fighting vehicles. The upgraded platforms are expected to feature Internet Protocol (IP)-based vehicle controls, autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, secure communications, and remote driving capability. Initially, selected companies will develop two complete conversion kits that will undergo extensive mobility, safety, and communication trials before larger-scale implementation is considered.

The real advantage of these robotic tanks lies in the missions they can perform. Rather than replacing crewed tanks, unmanned T-72s could lead dangerous operations such as minefield breaching, reconnaissance, decoy missions, and assaults against heavily defended enemy positions. By sending autonomous vehicles into high-risk areas first, commanders can reduce casualties while maintaining offensive momentum. This concept closely mirrors the growing use of drone wingmen alongside fighter aircraft, adapting the same philosophy to land warfare.

Another major benefit is affordability. Developing an entirely new robotic combat vehicle requires enormous investment and years of testing. By reusing existing T-72 hulls and integrating modern digital technologies, India can build a capable autonomous force much faster and at a fraction of the cost. The initiative also strengthens the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision by encouraging Indian companies to develop advanced autonomous military technologies instead of relying on foreign solutions.

If the trials prove successful, India's robotic T-72 program could become one of the country's most important land warfare transformations. Rather than viewing legacy tanks as obsolete, the Army is giving them an entirely new role in future network-centric warfare. Combined with next-generation platforms like the FRCV, these unmanned combat vehicles could provide India with a powerful blend of experience, technology, and cost-effective combat capability for decades to come.