IDEX 2021: Pakistan, UOP sign contract for T-80UD repair

Ukraine’s state-owned defence conglomerate UkrOboronProm (UOP) has signed a USD85.6 million contract with Pakistan for the repair of the country’s T-80UD main battle tank (MBT) fleet, according to a UOP statement released on 22 February, during the IDEX show held in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan procured 320 T-80UDs from Ukraine in 1996 at a value of USD580 million. These were delivered between 1997 and 1998, despite Russia refusing to supply key components such as the 2A46M-1 125 mm main gun as it did not want to arm Pakistan against India.

Since then, there have been multiple reports of co-operation between Ukraine and Pakistan to modernise and improve the fleet.

At IDEX 2017, for example, the two countries agreed to expand industrial collaboration on military programmes, according to a report from the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Citing a statement by Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) the APP said the memorandum of understanding would support co-operation in building, modifying, rebuilding, and upgrading tanks in Pakistan.

Separately, Interfax reported that two contracts were signed at IDEX 2017, one for the overhaul of five T-80UDs, and the second for the provision of 88 tank sights.

At the IDEAS 2017 exhibition in Pakistan later that year, UOP reported that it had held discussions with Pakistan for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and modernisation of the T-80UD fleet.

The 2017 talks presumably built on the memorandum of co-operation signed between Ukrspetsexport, Ukraine’s state-owned defence exporter, and Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila in 2016, which covered collaboration on Pakistan’s armoured vehicle programmes. The agreement is related to tanks, technical service, and maintenance and modernisation. Ukrainian defence industry companies will receive USD600 million,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said at that time.