Indian weapons maker Bharat Dynamics Limited has won a major contract to deliver T-90 tank missiles manufactured under a Russian license to the Indian army

Indian weapons maker Bharat Dynamics Limited has won a major contract to deliver T-90 tank missiles manufactured under a Russian license to the Indian army.

Under the contract, worth about USD470 million, the deliveries of the Invar missiles, which will be installed on Russian-built T-90 tanks, are to be completed within the next five years, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday, citing India-based Hindu daily.

Invar, according to the report, is a laser-guided antitank missile with a range of five kilometers (three miles) and the capability to penetrate explosive reactive armor.

According to local media reports, India plans to purchase 25,000 Invar missiles for its T-90 tanks, including 10,000 to be procured directly from Russia and 15,000 more to be manufactured domestically under a Russian license.

Bharat Dynamics, meanwhile, has been manufacturing the missiles in collaboration with Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, the report adds.

India has been one of Moscow’s most loyal weapons customers, while its rival and neighboring country, Pakistan, reportedly relies on mostly American and some Chinese weaponry.