Tata Motors has signed a strategic agreement with Bharat Forge and US-based General Dynamics Land Systems for India’s Rs 50,000-crore Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme. Tata Motors, the country’s largest commercial vehicle maker, will lead the consortium with Pune-based auto component maker Bharat Forge as the partner. General Dynamics Land Systems will bring in its expertise in the combat vehicles business.
The FICV is a high-mobility armoured battle vehicle for ferrying infantry men. It will replace the army’s fleet of 2,610 Russian-designed BMP-series armed vehicles in operation since 1980.
Last year, the army had issued expression of interest to 10 firms for the FICV programme. Apart from the Tatas, Mahindra & Mahindra, the Ordinance Factory Board, Titagarh Wagons, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Defence (formerly Pipavav Defence), Rolta India were also eyeing the project.
Did You Know?
- Abhay is an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) being developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Abhay is being developed as a technology demonstrator for replacing Indian Army BMP-2s.
- At present, various systems of this vehicle are in advanced stages of development.
- On 18 November 2013 India conveyed to Russia that they will not shelve their homegrown $10 billion Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme in favour of Russian BMP-3 combat vehicles.
