Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

Even as the Army’s fleet of BMP mechanised infantry combat vehicles remains severely deficient in numbers, plans are being drawn up to upgrade these vehicles with new anti-tank missiles, enhanced mobility and a state-of-the-art fire control system.Over 1,500 BMPs are expected undergo an upgrade to boost their operational capability. Global vendors, who are willing to transfer critical technologies and manufacture upgraded components and systems in India in consonance with the government’s “Make in India” policy, would be also considered for the project.The Army has projected a requirement of 15,000 anti-tank guided missiles, followed by an annual requirement of 3,000 missiles for the upgrade. These missiles need to have a range above 4 km, night firing and “fire and forget” capability and a first shot kill probability above 90 per cent.Besides advanced and contemporary sighting and fire control systems for the commander and gunner that are integrated with the BMP’s cannon and missile and are capable of night and adverse weather operations in extreme hot and cold climatic conditions, the mobility upgrade could include changes in running gear and suspension and a complete ergonomic redesign as long as it does not compromise operational parameters and amphibious capability.The Soviet-origin BMP-2/2K and its variants are the mainstay of the Mechanised Infantry. These are tracked armoured vehicles equipped with their own cannons and anti-tank missiles with the capability to carry soldiers into battle.

Mainstay of Mechanised Infantry

• The Soviet-origin BMP-2/2K are tracked armoured vehicles equipped with cannons and anti-tank missiles with capability to carry soldiers
• The Army started inducting BMP, the mainstay of Mechanised Infantry, in the late 1980s. Their role is to complement tanks and support infantry during assaults