*NEW DELHI, (BM)* – Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan,the Indian Army is looking for close to 200 armoured fighting vehicles fordeployment in different sectors in the frontier with Pakistan, learnedBulgarianMilitary.com, quoting The Economic Times.
The army recently announced its plan to procure 198 wheeled armouredfighting vehicles (AFV) for reconnaissance and support to tank regiments inmechanised warfare.
The vehicles are meant for replacing the army’s ageing Soviet origin BRDMcombat reconnaissance patrol vehicles. The requirement came out in aRequest for Information issued for procuring these equipment.
The army plans to use these AFVs in the plain sectors of Punjab andRajasthan. It wants that these AFVs should be able to operate in not onlydeveloped areas in this region, but in riverine terrain as well.
“The wheeled AFV should be provided with high mobility, adequate armourprotection and armament configuration, suitable to destroy enemy tanks andundertake local protection,” the army has said.
The army is searching for AFVs that have a service life of 32 years andwhich can operate in temperatures reaching upto 45 degrees Celsius and aslow as 0 degree.
It has also made it clear that the AFV should have a payload of at least 2tons, which should include ammunition and four crew members. Importantly,the AFV should be transportable by IL-76 and C-17 transport aircraft and byrailway, which will allow the army to quickly mobilise this specialisedfleet in the regions that it wants during a contingency.
While the army has a requirement of AFVs that can go upto speeds of about80 km per hour on roads and cross country, the need is also being felt forits amphibious use in water. It also wants the AFV to have two twin longrange Anti-Tank Guided Missiles with the ‘fire and forget capability’ and ahit probability of more than 90 percent and a maximum range of 4 km.
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It also needs a man portable ATGM launcher. This will allow troops whodismount from the AFV to fire the same missile that is meant for thelauncher on the vehicle.
The army has pointed out that the main gun of the AFV should be a 30mmcannon with a 7.62mm machine gun with internal storage facility for the twoweapons. It also needs AFV for protection from Chemical, Biological,Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) contamination. The AFV will also have itsown protection system from ATGM and rocket propelled grenades.
The army has invited responses to its request from Indian vendors who havetie ups with foreign original equipment manufacturers. The army plans toprocure this through the Buy Indian (IDDM- Indigenously Designed, Developedand Manufactured).
AFVs ensure greater mobility during operations and in out pacing anadversary. It also becomes important during ‘mopping up operations’ todestroy the last remnants of an enemy and in setting up defences to repel acounter attack.
The AFVs that the army is looking for will ensure greater reconnaissanceof enemy positions and in providing flank cover. The requirement gainsimportance in the backdrop of the Balakot air strikes and the subsequentaerial dogfight with Pakistani jets in Jammu and Kashmir.
