Indian Army BMP 2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Sarath

JBH22

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30mm used by Indian BMP is older and it’s rounds can’t penetrate modern AFVs and ATGMs are also older so they need to install new ATGMs.
The capability building is based on your budget, industrial capacity and most importantly what your adversary can throw to you. For that BMP 2 achieves its role decently
 

MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00

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The capability building is based on your budget, industrial capacity and most importantly what your adversary can throw to you. For that BMP 2 achieves its role decently
I don’t have much faith on the our Current BMP-2s which are not upgraded to modern standards. It might be able to deal with the Pakis which have just M113 copies but against Chinese it’s not going to be great.
 

BlackViking

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I don’t have much faith on the our Current BMP-2s which are not upgraded to modern standards. It might be able to deal with the Pakis which have just M113 copies but against Chinese it’s not going to be great.

Instead of FICV this should have been offered by the OFB maggots as an upgrade to the BMPs but the money suckers are portraying this as some future tech.
 

BlackViking

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Not possible as an upgrade option. This BMP derivative version has a different chassis design with 7 wheels compared to 6 wheels of original BMP-2.
What I meant was the tech demonstrated here to be offered for BMP UPG.

The other thing is that I don't know why OFB is still so much into BMP based design, they should come up with some new design class.

BTW any idea on the powerplant the OFB offered in this FICV?
 

shuvo@y2k10

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What I meant was the tech demonstrated here to be offered for BMP UPG.

The other thing is that I don't know why OFB is still so much into BMP based design, they should come up with some new design class.

BTW any idea on the powerplant the OFB offered in this FICV?
BMP based option makes sense from OFB's pespective. First they are already manufacturing BMP-2 since the last 30 years. So existing machines can be modified easily for that puspose. Secondly, from the Army's perspective logistical compatibility with the existing large inventory of BMP-2 is the economical option.

Army has rejected Arjun MBT on the very ground that T-90 presents a logistical compatibilty with the large number of existing T-72s. So this factor plays a major role in Army's decision making, and OFB does not/may not want to repeat the mistake CVRDE did with Arjun.

DRDO is developing a 600 hp engine which will most likely power this FICV.
 

WolfPack86

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The DAC on July 2, 2020 approved BMP-2 Armament Upgrade for the IA. The upgrade wasn't listed among indigenously developed weapon systems so it could be the kit based Russian Berezhok upgrade that can be implemented at low cost and in short time.

https://twitter.com/vkthakur/status/1284481598511910913

The recent DAC approval was likely connected with the ongoing crises along the LAC. During DefExpo 2020, OFB exhibited an upgraded BMP-2 that lacked the punch of the Berezhok (below).
https://twitter.com/vkthakur/status/1284481598511910913/photo/1

The upgrade, which requires minimal modifications of the tower, equips the BMP-2 with 3rd gen Kornet-E ATGM, 30-mm automatic grenade launcher (AG) AH-30, automatic target tracking and ballistic computer with the sensor system, and a television Panoramic sight for the commander.
 

WolfPack86

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Indian Army Initiates Indigenous Upgrade of Infantry Combat Vehicles
Chandigarh:
The Indian Army (IA) has initiated the indigenous upgrade of 811 of its licence built Soviet-era BMP-2/2K ‘Sarath’ infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) by equipping them with more powerful engines, night fighting capability and varied advanced systems.

The force recently despatched a project sanction order (PSO) to 12 domestic private and public sector companies – referred to as Development Agencies (DAs) – to produce a retrofitted prototype within 52 weeks (or by July 31, 2022) for user trials, UK’s Jane’s Defence Weekly reported on August 17. One ICV apiece would be supplied to each potential vendor by the IA for this purpose, the classified 12-page PSO stated.

Thereafter, at least two vendors would be selected from amongst those who met the IA’s preliminary staff qualitative requirement (PSQRs) for the upgraded ICVs, and the one that emerged L1, or the lowest bidder, would be shortlisted to series upgrade all 811 platforms, Jane’s stated.

The magazine said officials associated with the ICV upgrade stated that the BMP-2 upgrade would be processed under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (Indian-IDDM) category of the Defence Procurement Procedure-2020 (DPP-2020), which mandates a 50% domestically sourced content for the retrofit.

The potential vendors on the IA’s list include Alpha Design Technologies, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Forge, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Reliance Defence and Infrastructure and Tata. All these companies would be permitted to enter into collaborative agreements with overseas original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the project, and according to industry sources many already had already finalised cooperative arrangements

Official sources told Jane’s that the projected ICV upgrade would include fitting them with more powerful engines to replace their present UTD20/2 300hp power packs, third-generation thermal imager-based gunner and panoramic sights, modern fire control systems and automatic target trackers. The retrofit would also encompass upgrading the platforms on-board weapon systems that include a 30mm 2A42 auto-canon with dual ammunition feeds, capable of firing 9M113 Konkurs wire-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and a secondary coaxial 7.62x54mm machine gun.

Earlier, in July 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had approved the ongoing Rs 2,400 crore upgrade of 639 BMP-2/2K to BMP-2M standards by the state-owned OFB. This included fitting them with six cylinder four stroke UTD-23 supercharged 360hp diesel engines and thermal imaging fire control systems (TIFCS). Some are also reportedly being armed with the locally developed Nag ATGMs and automatic grenade launchers.

Equipping the ICVs with TIFCS’, however, follows a rare admission by the force last year that the BMP2/2K’s, inducted into service 1985 onwards were ‘night blind’ and that their sighting systems, based on Image Intensifier Technology were ‘not fit for modern day warfare’. Many such BMPs had been deployed to eastern Ladakh in response to the enduring standoff, since May 2020 between the IA and China’s People’s Liberation Army along their disputed Line of Actual Control or LAC.

The IA has so far acquired 2,691 BMP-2/2Ks since the mid-1980’s, of which around 1,700 were presently operational, doubling in many instances as armoured ambulances, amphibious bulldozers and engineer reconnaissance vehicles. Some ICVs, with modified chassis have also been employed as Nag missile carriers (NAMICA) – capable of carrying up to six locally developed Nag ATGMs – and as part of the medium-range surface-to-air (SAM) Akash air defence missile systems to transport their indigenously designed Rajendra phased array fire control radar.

And in June 2020, the MoD had approved the procurement of 156 licence-built BMP-2 ICVs from the OFB Medak unit in Telangana that has been series producing the ICVs since 1987. Officials indicated that OFB Medak is required to complete delivery of all 156 ICVs within 24 months.

Weighing 14.3 tonnes and operated by a three-man crew, including the commander and gunner and powered by a UTD20/3 300hp diesel engine, the BMP-2s are capable of transporting seven fully-equipped infantrymen. The ICVs have an operational range of 600km and are capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 65kph on roads, 45kmph off-road and at 7kmph when engaged amphibiously..

According to Jane’s, the IA had kickstarted its long-delayed upgrade of 811 BMP2 ICVs to meet the challenge posed by the PLA in Ladakh. Senior IA officers, however, had told the magazine that the ICV upgrade was a ‘major project’ to execute locally and faced ‘serious’ financial and technological challenges. It was also possible that the deadline to produce a prototype in 52 weeks by July 2022 could also be rescheduled.

Jane’s experts added that the ‘Sarath’ ICVs lacked several mission systems that were fairly standard, rendering an upgrade a ‘necessity to avoid obsolescence’ until a replacement platform was procured or the long-delayed Future Infantry Combat Vehicle or FICV was developed. The financially and technologically ambitious $12 billion FICV programme, initiated in 2009 to locally design and build 2,610 20-22 ton ICVs as replacements for the BMP-2.2Ks has been abandoned, revived and once again dumped several times.

Meanwhile, industry officials, for their part were sceptical over whether the ICV upgrade would meet the mandated 50% indigenous requirement for the programme, as a large proportion of systems needed for its upgrade would necessarily be imported, as developing them locally would not only be expensive but also time consuming.

“Hopefully, the elaborate ICV upgrade project will not flounder over the seemingly unattainable requirement for indigenisation in the name of atmanirbharta or self-reliance,” said Amit Cowshish, former Ministry of Defence advisor on acquisitions. It’s time for the MoD and services to err on the side of practicality in such programmes rather than get bogged down in procedural complexities, many of which are unattainable, he added.
 

Picard

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𝗔𝗷𝗻𝗮𝗘𝗦𝗔𝗦 See- Through Armour for battle tanks
That is interesting system, and seems rather nice. But I do hope they also placed armored cameras on the turret and the hull, as it seems quite easy to destroy (say, by an anti-material sniper rifle).
 

SwordOfDarkness

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That is interesting system, and seems rather nice. But I do hope they also placed armored cameras on the turret and the hull, as it seems quite easy to destroy (say, by an anti-material sniper rifle).
I think they have overlapping FOV, plus overlapping fov of thermal cams. Even if one knocked out, shouldnt affect much.
 

WolfPack86

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Infantry Combat Vehicles In, Soviet-Era BMP-2 Out: How Army Plans to Modernise Mechanised Infantry
The Army is in the process of acquiring a range of niche technologies developed indigenously as part of modernising its Mechanised Infantry arm, defence sources familiar with the development said on Thursday.

As per sources, the Army is looking to procure around 480 Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) to replace its traditional BMP-2 — the Soviet-era amphibious infantry fighting vehicle acquired by the Army in the 1980s. An Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the platform is expected to be accorded in the next Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting.

Sources further said that the modalities for procuring Nag Missile Systems (NAMIS) for the Recce & Support (Tracked) Battalions and Infantry Combat Vehicle, Command (ICV Comd), as the Command & Control platform are being drawn up. Last month, the DAC accorded amendment to AoN for 13 NAMICA and 293 Nag missiles. The DAC then had also granted AoN for 177 ICV Comd.

As part of the modernisation plans, the Army is also planning to procure 105 new Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Wh AFV) to replace BRDMs, which are combat reconnaissance patrol vehicles. In June, the AoN for 105 Wh AFV and 1,080 ATGMs was granted by the DAC.

Other procurement plans include getting new Wheeled Infantry Combat Vehicle (Wh ICV) for Standard Mechanised Infantry Battalions (Wheeled) and Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (LAMV) with greater mobility and protection for Recce Platoon which will replace the existing modified Maruti Gypsy. The RFI for this was floated last month.

Additionally, existing equipment with the Mechanised Infantry are also being heavily upgraded with contemporary technologies. For instance, the BMP-2 is being upgraded for enhanced night-fighting capability, which will include Thermal Imager based Driver Night Sight and Commander Thermal Imaging (TI) Sight for the driver and the commander of the BMP-2.

The Army is also looking at various indigenous options as it plans to buy a range of contemporary third generation Fire and Forget ATGMs for enhanced firepower, and is in the process of acquiring Canister Launched Loiter Munition System to be integrated on BMP-2/ Carrier Mortar Tracked (CMT) chassis so that they can take out targets beyond visual range.

Other planned upgrades include acquiring anti-drone capability to engage aerial targets, mini UAVs, See Through Armour, Autonomous Combat Vehicle, and Artificial Intelligence-based Integrated Surveillance for enhancing its ISR capabilities.

The Mechanised Infantry and the Armoured Corps are working on a joint project for getting Integrated Surveillance & Targeting System (ISAT-S) on BMP & Tank chassis.

Sources said multiple projects are also in the pipeline for “better survivability, modern navigation aids, effective communication and critical operational logistic requirements of Mechanised Infantry in the battlefield”.

“A twin approach has been adopted for the Mechanised Infantry, which includes replacing vintage equipment with futuristic platforms and capability enhancement of existing equipment through upgrades,” a defence source said.
 

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