Jabalpur : Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on August 27 performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the T-Series Tanks Overhaul Project at the Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur, a unit of Mini Ratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL).
The project, estimated to cost ₹472 crore, will establish dedicated overhaul facilities for T-72 and T-90 tanks and marks another significant step towards strengthening India’s defence self-reliance and indigenous maintenance capabilities.
Facility to Overhaul 80 Tanks Annually
The new facilities at Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur are planned to overhaul 80 tanks every year, ensuring the timely availability of refurbished tanks to the Indian Army and strengthening its operational readiness.
The Army requires around 230 tanks to be overhauled annually. At present, the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, has the capacity to overhaul 150 tanks per year. The addition of the Jabalpur facility will therefore help bridge the existing requirement and enhance the overall overhaul capacity.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh described the project as a reflection of India’s growing technological capabilities and industrial strength. He expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to India’s ambition of becoming one of the world’s leading defence manufacturing and export hubs.
Tanks Remain Relevant in Modern Warfare
The Raksha Mantri noted that warfare is rapidly evolving with the growing use of drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, Artificial Intelligence and cyber warfare. However, he stressed that the importance of tanks has not diminished; rather, their role has evolved in the modern battlefield.
“Modern warfare demands combined capabilities rather than dependence on a single platform,” Rajnath Singh said, highlighting the importance of integrating tanks, infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance and precision weapons into a unified combat system.
Referring to the Indian Army’s Integrated Battle Group concept, he said tanks must be equipped with superior sensors and capabilities suited to contemporary battlefield requirements.
He added that the Government’s focus is on providing soldiers with drones, missiles, artillery, electronic warfare systems, energy weapons and modernised tanks, while ensuring seamless coordination between these capabilities.
“The overhaul facility will advance this vision,” he said.
Jabalpur to Emerge as Major Defence Hub
Rajnath Singh highlighted the contribution of the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, which has supplied around 4,400 tanks to the Indian Army over the past four decades.
He said the new project would further strengthen Jabalpur’s position as a major centre for defence technology, maintenance, modernisation and manufacturing.
The Raksha Mantri expressed confidence that AVNL, drawing on its 25 years of experience in overhauling T-72 and T-90 variant tanks, would establish new benchmarks in quality, productivity, innovation and global competitiveness.
Defence Production Touches ₹1.80 Lakh Crore
Highlighting the progress achieved under the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Rajnath Singh said sustained efforts over the past decade have transformed India’s defence sector and changed the global perception of India’s capabilities.
He stated that India’s defence production increased to around ₹1.80 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26, compared with ₹46,000 crore in 2014.
Similarly, defence exports reached an all-time high of approximately ₹39,000 crore, compared with less than ₹1,000 crore earlier.
The Raksha Mantri described these achievements as evidence of India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub, reliable technology partner and trusted defence partner.
Focus on Indigenous Supply Chains
Speaking about the changing character of warfare, Rajnath Singh said countries with advanced technologies, resilient supply chains, strong industrial capacity and a culture of innovation would be better positioned to withstand prolonged conflicts.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to reducing dependence on foreign supply chains for critical defence requirements.
“Our aim is to manufacture defence equipment domestically, undertake repair and maintenance within the country, upgrade existing systems with modern technologies, and develop next-generation capabilities indigenously,” he said.
Project to Boost MSMEs and Employment
The new T-Series tank overhaul facilities are also expected to create substantial opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The project will generate demand for a broad range of mechanical, electrical, electronic and hydraulic components, assemblies and subsystems. Local sourcing of these requirements is expected to help build a stronger and more resilient supply chain while creating opportunities for MSMEs involved in manufacturing and ancillary services.
The initiative is likely to increase local industry’s participation in defence production and contribute to the development of a self-sustaining industrial ecosystem.
Rajnath Singh said the project would benefit the armed forces while also generating employment opportunities for people in Jabalpur and surrounding areas, including farmers, workers, youth and small entrepreneurs.
Madhya Pradesh Positioned as Defence & Aerospace Hub
The Raksha Mantri also appreciated the Madhya Pradesh Government’s initiatives in industry, investment and defence manufacturing.
He highlighted the Global Investors Summit 2025, the transparent approval mechanism through ‘Invest MP 3.0’, and industry-friendly policies as measures that are helping position the state as an attractive investment destination.
Rajnath Singh noted that the availability of 3,073 hectares of land in the Gwalior-Chambal region for defence manufacturing, along with proposed investments exceeding ₹16,960 crore, reflects the state’s ambition to expand its defence-industrial capabilities.
He said these efforts are laying the foundation for Madhya Pradesh to become India’s next major Defence & Aerospace Manufacturing Hub.
CM Mohan Yadav Welcomes Investment
Speaking on the occasion, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav welcomed the investment in Jabalpur, saying it would strengthen the state’s defence ecosystem and encourage greater participation of MSMEs.
He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s growing stature on the global stage and said the country is prepared to meet challenges across different domains.
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, CMD AVNL Shri Satyabrata Mukherjee, along with senior officials from the Department of Defence Production, AVNL and the Armed Forces, were present at the ceremony.
In essence, the ₹472-crore Jabalpur project is aimed not only at expanding India’s tank overhaul capacity but also at strengthening indigenous defence supply chains, creating opportunities for MSMEs and enhancing the country’s long-term Aatmanirbhar defence manufacturing ecosystem.