JABALPUR : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for a new ₹472-crore T-Series tank overhaul facility at the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) on Thursday. Addressing the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony, Singh asserted that despite the rapid evolution of modern warfare, main battle tanks have not lost their relevance and remain essential for ground operations.
“The character of warfare has certainly changed today with drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence, and cyber warfare,” Singh said. “But this does not mean the relevance of tanks has come to an end. Modern warfare requires combined capabilities, and tanks continue to provide soldiers with decisive protected mobility and firepower on the battlefield.”
The new state-of-the-art workshop, operating under Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), is designed to overhaul 80 T-72 ‘Ajeya’ and T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tanks annually. This expansion addresses a critical capacity gap for the Indian Army, which requires roughly 230 tank overhauls per year to maintain full operational readiness. Previously, the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, was the sole facility capable of handling these main battle tanks, with a capacity capped at 150 units annually.
Singh highlighted that proximity to active army field formations makes Jabalpur an ideal hub, drastically cutting logistical delays and transportation costs associated with shipping heavy armored vehicles across the country for maintenance.
Underlining India’s broader push toward defence self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta), the Defence Minister pointed out the nation’s remarkable growth in domestic manufacturing. India’s defence production has surged from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.80 lakh crore, while defence exports have scaled from under ₹1,000 crore to approximately ₹39,000 crore in the same period.
The project is also expected to give a massive boost to the regional economy in Madhya Pradesh. By engaging local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to supply specialized mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic sub-systems for the overhauled tanks, the facility will strengthen the domestic supply chain and generate technical jobs.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who attended the groundbreaking event, praised the Ministry of Defence’s investment, noting that it firmly establishes Jabalpur as a key hub for military technology, maintenance, and defense manufacturing.
