Army pushes new tank and armoured carrier projects

• The Indian Army is looking to procure a new generation ‘Future Tank’ under the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project in a phased manner.
• Its induction is expected by 2030.

Expanding capabilities

• The domestic industry is now ready to take the project forward quickly.
• The Mechanised Infantry is:
• upgrading the large inventory of Russian BMP-II armoured personnel carriers in service
• gearing up to procure a new vehicle under the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) project.
• The Army is taking time to define the case and the requirements of the new tank.
• If all goes well, the prototype should be ready by 2030.

Indian Army fleet

• Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks
• 2 regiments of indigenous Arjun tanks
• An upgraded Arjun-MK1A is to be inducted shortly.

Upgrading BMP-IIs

• The second generation Konkurs wire guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) on them are being replaced with an indigenous third gen ATGM.
• Also, the FICV project and induction of other new platforms are also underway.
• The indigenous third gen Nag Missile System (NAMIS) is being inducted for reconnaissance and support battalions.
• The DAC has accorded amendment to AoN for quantity 13 Nag missile carriers and 293 Nag Missiles in July 2022.
• DAC has already approved the procurement of 105 New Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Wh-AFV) and 1,080 ATGMs to replace the existing ones.
• Procurement of a new Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (LAMV) with enhanced mobility and protection to replace the existing modified Maruti Gypsy with the Recce Platoons is also underway.

Prelims Takeaway

• Nag Missile System
• Arjun-MK1A
• Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project
• Defence Acquisition Council