New Delhi: A fresh Request for Information (RFI) to procure over 1,700 Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) by the Indian Army has been received by 12 Original Equipment Manufacturers. The RFI for the future tanks is going to be through the Strategic Partnership (SP) route and the induction of which is expected to be completed by 2030.
According to a senior officer, “The FRCV platform which the Indian Army is looking for is expected to be for future warfare and is also expected to have the capability to be used on other specialised fighting vehicles.”
The OEMs include: France Leclerc Nexter; Russia 1) T-90 & T-14 Armata Uralvagonzavod marketed by Rosoboronexport (ROE); South Korea K1 Hyundai Rotem; USA M1AX (Abrams) General Dynamics; Germany Leopard KMW and Rheinmetall; Ukraine T – 84 Malyshev Plant marketed by Spectstechno Expo; Italy Ariete Consortium Iveco and Oto Melara (Leonardo); Serbia M – 84 Yugoimport; Israel Merkava Mantak/ Israel Ordnance Corps; UK’s Challenger; and Turkey’s Altay Otokar. And, Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation.
According to the RFI, the Indian Army has plans to get 1,700 FRCVs, Transfer of Technology (ToT), maintenance and training requirements, as well as performance based logistics and engineering support packages.
The companies are expected to respond by mid-September. FRCV, is an armoured platform and when inducted in the Indian Army, will be used primarily for the Main Battle Tank (MBT).
The procurement of the FRCV is expected to replace the Indian Army’s old fleet of 2,414 Soviet-origin T-72 tanks. The FRCV is expected to be medium weight (45-50 ton). It is expected to operate in different terrains – like high altitude areas, developed, and desert terrain.
The Indian Army was looking for FICV for the replacement of obsolete BMP II (procured in mid-1980’s) which began its journey through an AON (Acceptance of Necessity) in Oct 2009, under DPP 2008, Make Chapter. This was for 2610 combat vehicles.
According to sources, the American M1 Abrams and the German Leopard due to their heavy weight may not fit the specifications mentioned in the RFI.
In the previous RFI Indian companies including Tata Motors, Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited, Mahindra Group, Bharat Forge, Punj Lloyd, Tata Power SED, Titagarh Wagons, and Tractors India had expressed interest in forming a joint venture with the OEMs.
