India Enhances T-90S Bhishma Tanks with Israeli Trophy APS, Strengthening Strategic Defense Collaboration

In a pivotal advancement for its armored warfare capabilities, the Indian Army is set to enhance its T-90S/SK Bhishma main battle tanks with the renowned Trophy Active Protection System (APS), created by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Systems. This initiative not only strengthens India’s armored forces against contemporary battlefield challenges but also highlights the expanding defense and security collaboration between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.

The Trophy APS is recognized as one of the most extensively utilized active protection systems globally, integrated into several leading main battle tanks, such as the M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams, the latest Leopard 2 models, the Challenger 3, and Israel’s Merkava series. Its capacity to detect and neutralize incoming threats in real time has established it as a standard for modern armored vehicle defense.

Importantly, there is a strong likelihood that Trophy APS units could be produced domestically in India if the country moves forward with the integration of this system into its fleet. This development would support India’s Make in India initiative and enhance local defense manufacturing capabilities.

At the recently held Aero India 2025, Rafael further cemented this collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to create a customized version of the Trophy APS designed to fulfill the operational needs of the Indian Army.

This collaboration between Rafael and L&T, two technology-focused companies, introduces the latest iteration of the proven Trophy Active Protection System (APS) tailored specifically for Indian military platforms. According to Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President & Head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, it will be produced in India, ensuring local support capabilities.

“This APS will significantly improve the survivability of both current and future combat platforms that the Indian Armed Forces will incorporate,” he added. This development aligns with India’s continuous initiative to modernize its armored units.

In early February 2025, the Indian Army released a Request for Information (RFI), seeking proposals from both domestic and international defense companies for a next-generation APS. The official requirements specify that this system will be integrated into the T-90 Bhishma main battle tanks, enhancing their resilience against emerging battlefield threats.

The T-90S Bhishma, developed in collaboration with Russia and manufactured extensively in India, along with its upgraded versions, constitutes the core of the Indian Army’s armored capabilities. Since its debut in the early 2000s, India has progressively expanded its fleet of T-90 main battle tanks, acquiring multiple batches of Russian-made armored vehicles while increasingly incorporating locally produced components and indigenous technologies with each procurement cycle.

The latest achievement in this modernization drive is the rollout of the T-90 MK III, which represents the most advanced version to date.

This enhancement arises from India’s significant procurement agreement with Russia, finalized in 2019, with deliveries anticipated to commence in 2024. Currently, India operates approximately 1,657 T-90 tanks, which include the T-90S and T-90 Bhishma Mk2 variants. In November 2019, New Delhi secured a contract for an additional 464 T-90 Bhishma Mk3 units, further solidifying its position as one of the largest operators of T-90 tanks globally. The initial delivery of 10 units took place on May 13, 2024, with additional shipments planned to bolster India’s armored capabilities. Following this latest acquisition, the total count of T-90 tanks in the Indian Army is projected to exceed 2,100 units.

However, as the nature of warfare changes, particularly in light of insights gained from the conflict in Ukraine, the necessity for improved tank survivability and defensive measures has become increasingly clear. The susceptibility of armored units to contemporary anti-tank threats highlights the vital role of Active Protection Systems (APS) in India’s strategy to enhance its armored forces against new challenges. Although the Russian-manufactured T-90 main battle tank is fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), it remains at risk from advanced Western anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) like the Javelin and NLAW, which utilize tandem warheads specifically designed to penetrate layered armor defenses.

This escalating challenge has led India to investigate advanced active protection systems (APS) to enhance the survivability of its armored vehicles. In this context, the Indian Army has recently released a Request for Information (RFI) detailing its operational needs for both soft-kill and hard-kill APS.

The required system must effectively neutralize various battlefield threats, such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), guided rockets, drones, and kinetic projectiles, while ensuring smooth integration with the T-90 fleet without affecting its performance.

Rafael, a prominent Israeli defense company known for its expertise in APS technology, has highlighted the capabilities of its Trophy system, which has been extensively deployed in combat situations.

The Trophy system offers automatic detection of hostile fire and boasts a high interception probability of over 90 percent, delivering consistent performance whether at short or long distances, even while the vehicle is in motion. It provides comprehensive 360° protection with a significant elevation angle. Its countermeasures include various active interception methods, such as blast effects, fragmentation, explosively formed penetrators (EFPs), and projectiles.

To further enhance its defensive capabilities, the Trophy APS has recently received an upgrade for top-attack defense, specifically aimed at countering aerial threats like drones and missiles. This upgrade is a vital enhancement that addresses the increasing vulnerability of armored vehicles to attacks targeting their most exposed area: the top.