Kamal Ghorui
BENGALURU: The Indian Army has completed the installation of Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) — an Indo-Israeli technology developed in Bengaluru — on 96 of its T-72 tanks, with the systems clearing firing validation trials before induction.The T-72 remains one of the mainstays of the Army’s armoured fleet. Upgrades such as thermal imaging and automatic target tracking are aimed at extending operational relevance, particularly in low-visibility and night operations where older optical systems have limitations.The upgrade has been executed by Alpha-Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Systems. A contract for the supply and installation of 96 TIFCS units was signed with the Army in 2023.While India and Israel are expected to finalise a framework allowing companies from both nations to deepen cooperation during PM Modi’s visit, the Alpha-Elbit collaboration was a result of an earlier agreement between the two nations.Confirming the development, Alpha Design representatives told TOI: “Earlier, similar systems were supplied directly by the Israeli partner. Under the current arrangement, the systems have been manufactured in India with technical support from Elbit Systems, aligning with the government’s Make-in-India programme and the push for defence indigenisation.”The TIFCS is designed to strengthen the T-72’s night-fighting capability. It automatically acquires inputs from external sensors, carries out ballistic corrections and feeds corrected target data into the fire control system. An integrated automatic target tracker (ATT) enables continuous tracking of moving targets, allowing engagement in dynamic conditions, including at night.Alpha said firing validation trials of the indigenously manufactured systems were conducted by the Army during Nov–Dec 2025, after which the installations were completed.Alpha-Elsec CEO Nataraj Krishnappa told TOI: “Alpha-Elsec, as an MSME with a workforce of around 120 highly skilled professionals, has been making steady and significant progress in the manufacture of advanced opto-electronic equipment for the Indian Armed Forces. A substantial number of our products are also 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 increase in its order book for indigenous defence supplies, with additional orders from Indian defence forces in the pipeline.The firm focuses on the manufacture, integration and lifecycle support of electro-optic and fire control systems for defence applications. Beyond Army platforms, its electro-optic products are also used by paramilitary forces and in select civilian sectors.
