The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹586 crore contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited for the procurement of Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for the Indian Army’s T-72 and T-90 tanks.
The contract was signed in New Delhi on September 21, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The procurement is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness, reliability and sustainability of the Army’s mechanised formations through the induction of indigenously developed APUs.
An Auxiliary Power Unit provides an alternate source of electrical power for critical tank systems. According to the Ministry of Defence, the APUs will support the fire control system, firing circuit, gun stabilisation system and other ancillary equipment of the T-72 and T-90 tanks.
The availability of an alternate power source is particularly relevant for maintaining the functioning of critical onboard systems. The induction of the indigenous APUs is therefore expected to contribute to the reliability and operational availability of the Army’s armoured platforms.
The procurement also represents a step towards the indigenisation of critical subsystems used on armoured platforms. Rather than limiting self-reliance to major weapon platforms, the initiative focuses on developing and producing important supporting systems that directly contribute to the operational effectiveness of combat vehicles.
The Ministry of Defence described the procurement as an industry-led research and development initiative under the Make-II category. The Make-II mechanism is intended to facilitate the development of defence equipment and systems by Indian industry, with the present contract demonstrating the movement of an indigenous innovation from development towards production and induction.
The contract with Accurate Industrial Controls also highlights the increasing role of private-sector industry in developing and supplying specialised defence technologies for the Armed Forces.
The T-72 and T-90 tanks form an important component of the Indian Army’s armoured formations. Ensuring the reliability of their critical subsystems remains an important element of maintaining mechanised operational readiness.
The APU procurement is consequently focused not merely on acquiring an individual component but on improving the overall sustainability of these armoured platforms. By providing an alternate electrical power source for essential systems, the indigenous units are intended to support the continued availability of critical tank capabilities.
The procurement is aligned with the government’s broader focus on Aatmanirbharta in Defence and the development of a resilient domestic defence-industrial base. Indigenous production of specialised subsystems can reduce dependence on external sources while strengthening domestic design, manufacturing and maintenance capabilities.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the contract is also aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and contributes to the objective of building a resilient, self-reliant and globally competitive Indian defence industry.
The agreement illustrates how indigenisation is being pursued across different layers of military equipment, including critical components and subsystems. Such programmes can also contribute to the development of specialised industrial capabilities and strengthen the domestic defence supply chain.
For the Indian Army’s mechanised formations, the induction of indigenous APUs is expected to enhance the reliability and sustainability of T-72 and T-90 tanks while supporting the availability of their fire control, firing, gun stabilisation and other ancillary systems.
The ₹586 crore contract therefore marks another step in the ongoing effort to strengthen India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem while improving the technical sustainability of established armoured platforms in the Army’s inventory.
