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BENGALURU: The Indian Army has completed the installation of Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) — an Indo-Israeli exertion developed successful Bengaluru — connected 96 of its T-72 tanks, with the systems clearing firing validation trials earlier induction.The T-72 remains 1 of the mainstays of the Army’s armoured fleet. Upgrades specified arsenic thermal imaging and automatic people tracking are aimed astatine extending operational relevance, peculiarly successful low-visibility and nighttime operations wherever older optical systems person limitations.The upgrade has been executed by Alpha-Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd, a associated task betwixt Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Systems.
A declaration for the proviso and installation of 96 TIFCS units was signed with the Army successful 2023.While India and Israel are expected to finalise a model allowing companies from some nations to deepen practice during PM Modi’s visit, the Alpha-Elbit collaboration was a effect of an earlier statement betwixt the 2 nations.Confirming the development, Alpha Design representatives told TOI: “Earlier, akin systems were supplied straight by the Israeli partner.
Under the existent arrangement, the systems person been manufactured successful India with method enactment from Elbit Systems, aligning with the government’s Make-in-India programme and the propulsion for defence indigenisation.”The TIFCS is designed to fortify the T-72’s night-fighting capability. It automatically acquires inputs from outer sensors, carries retired ballistic corrections and feeds corrected people information into the occurrence power system.
An integrated automatic people tracker (ATT) enables continuous tracking of moving targets, allowing engagement successful dynamic conditions, including astatine night.Alpha said firing validation trials of the indigenously manufactured systems were conducted by the Army during Nov–Dec 2025, aft which the installations were completed.Alpha-Elsec CEO Nataraj Krishnappa told TOI: “Alpha-Elsec, arsenic an MSME with a workforce of astir 120 highly skilled professionals, has been making dependable and important advancement successful the manufacture of precocious opto-electronic instrumentality for the Indian Armed Forces.
A important fig of our products are besides exported to our JV partner, which further supplies them to customers worldwide.”Following the completion of this order, Alpha-Elsec said it has seen an summation successful its bid publication for indigenous defence supplies, with further orders from Indian defence forces successful the pipeline.The steadfast focuses connected the manufacture, integration and lifecycle enactment of electro-optic and occurrence power systems for defence applications. Beyond Army platforms, its electro-optic products are besides utilized by paramilitary forces and successful prime civilian sectors.
