UPSC Articles
Army issues tender for 1,750 Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Defence and Security
In news
- The Indian Army has issued a Request For Information (RFI), for the procurement of 1,750 Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICVs) to replace the Russian-origin infantry vehicles in service.
- This is the Army’s third attempt for the procurement of a new infantry vehicle.
- Early this month, an RFI was also issued for the procurement of 1770 Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) for the procurement of the next generation Main Battle Tank with planned induction from 2030.
About the RFI
- A three-stage induction model has been proposed by the Army and Indian vendors can collaborate with Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to supply FICVs within two years of the contract at the rate of 75-100 vehicles per year,
- According to the RFI, the FICVs would be employed for: cross-country operations in:
- Plain and desert terrain along the Western borders and high altitudes, up to 5,000 m
- Mountain terrain along the northern borders in eastern Ladakh,
- Central India
- North Sikkim.
- They would replace the 1980s vintage Russian-origin BMP-2.
- The main operational tasks that would be performed by the FICV include destroying:
- enemy tanks
- armoured personnel carriers
- combat vehicles
- low-flying helicopters
- other ground-based weapon platforms and positions.
- The FRCV platform is planned to be procured under the ‘Strategic Partnership’ route of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
- The FRCV is envisaged as a medium weight tank and will remain in service for the next 40-50 years as the MBT of the Army.
