By 
NEW DELHI: India’s mechanised warfare doctrine is on the verge of its biggest transformation since the induction of Soviet-origin BMP infantry combat vehicles in the 1980s. At the centre of this transition is the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV), a next-generation armoured platform being developed to replace the Indian Army’s ageing BMP-2 fleet with a modern, network-centric, heavily armed and highly survivable battlefield system.The FICV programme is not merely about replacing old armoured vehicles. It represents India’s broader military shift towards indigenous defence manufacturing, drone-enabled warfare, battlefield digitisation and high-mobility operations across deserts, plains, riverine sectors and high-altitude terrain. The project, estimated to be worth nearly Rs 60,000 crore, is among the Indian Army’s largest “Make in India” modernisation efforts and is expected to reshape the future of mechanised infantry combat.
The Indian Army currently operates thousands of BMP-2 and BMP-2K Sarath Infantry Fighting Vehicles, platforms originally designed during the Cold War for Soviet-style mass mechanised warfare. While these vehicles have undergone upgrades over the decades, they are increasingly viewed as outdated against modern threats such as anti-tank guided missiles, loitering munitions, armed drones and precision artillery. The FICV is intended to bridge this technological gap and create a platform suitable for 21st-century warfare.
What exactly is the FICV?
The Future Infantry Combat Vehicle is envisioned as a heavily protected, mobile and technologically advanced tracked combat platform capable of transporting infantry into battle while simultaneously providing substantial firepower and battlefield support. Unlike conventional armoured personnel carriers, an infantry combat vehicle is designed to fight alongside tanks and infantry during active combat operations.The proposed FICV is expected to weigh roughly 20 tonnes and be powered by a 600-horsepower engine. Despite its size and armour protection, it is expected to retain amphibious capability, enabling it to cross rivers and water obstacles without external support. This remains an important operational requirement for the Indian Army given India’s diverse geography and potential combat theatres.
The vehicle is expected to carry a crew of three consisting of the commander, gunner and driver, while transporting up to eight fully equipped soldiers. Its primary armament is likely to include a 30mm autocannon, coaxial machine guns and anti-tank guided missiles. In keeping with evolving battlefield trends, the platform is also expected to support loitering munitions and drone integration.Protection is another major area of focus. Modern FICV concepts incorporate modular composite armour, mine protection systems and Active Protection Systems (APS) designed to intercept incoming projectiles before impact. This marks a substantial jump from older BMP designs that were increasingly vulnerable to modern anti-armour weapons.
Why India wants to replace the BMP fleet
India inducted BMP-1 vehicles in the late 1970s before transitioning to the BMP-2 series. The mechanised infantry concept itself emerged from the recommendations of the Krishna Rao Committee, established by the Indian government in 1975 to prepare a long-term perspective plan for the Army. The committee evaluated future battlefield requirements and stressed the need for greater mechanisation and mobile firepower.As a result, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment was formally raised on April 2, 1979. BMP-1 vehicles were inducted initially, followed by BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles by 1990. These vehicles significantly improved the Army’s offensive and defensive mobility and became a central element of Indian mechanised doctrine.
However, the nature of warfare changed dramatically after the Cold War. Infantry fighting vehicles increasingly required thermal sights, advanced armour, digital fire-control systems and network-centric warfare capabilities. The BMP family, designed around Soviet doctrine emphasising quantity over technological sophistication, began showing limitations.The Gulf War became a major lesson globally. Iraqi BMPs were out-ranged, outperformed and destroyed by coalition armoured platforms equipped with superior optics, fire-control systems and protection technologies. This demonstrated how older Soviet-era vehicles could become highly vulnerable against modern mechanised forces.For India, the challenge became even greater with the emergence of two-front security concerns involving Pakistan and China. High-altitude warfare in Ladakh, rapid manoeuvre operations in deserts and the increasing threat posed by drones forced planners to rethink future infantry mobility and protection.
The Abhay project: India’s first serious attempt
Long before the current FICV programme gathered momentum, DRDO had already initiated a technology demonstrator called “Abhay”, Sanskrit for “Fearless”. The Abhay Infantry Combat Vehicle programme began in the mid-1990s and represented India’s first major indigenous attempt at designing a modern infantry fighting vehicle.The aim was not just to build a replacement for BMPs but also to create indigenous expertise in armoured vehicle design, composite armour, fire-control systems, automotive technologies and weapon integration.According to reports from the period, then DRDO chief M Natarajan stated in 2004: “The Abhay is under development. We see it as the future infantry combat vehicle for the Army. It will be a replacement for the Russian made BMPs that the Army has. It should be ready in two years.”Although the Abhay never entered mass production, the programme became a technological foundation for later Indian armoured vehicle projects.
How Abhay helped India build indigenous capabilities
The Abhay programme involved multiple DRDO laboratories and became a major indigenous technology incubator. Systems ranging from sights and fire-control computers to armour packages and fire suppression systems were developed domestically.The project eventually produced two prototypes, including one armoured variant. DRDO later declared the programme successfully completed in its 2007-08 annual report. The organisation said:“The multi-disciplinary, multi-laboratory, Technology Demonstration Programme for development of Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) Abhay, has been successfully completed during the year having realized two prototypes. The successful development programme has imparted a boost to the self-reliance in defence technology. The technologies developed under this programme, such as fire control system, composite armour, hydro-pneumatic suspension and host of other automotive and armament sub-systems can be adopted for futuristic ICV and light tracked vehicle projects.“Many of these technologies continue influencing current DRDO projects, including the Zorawar light tank being developed with Larsen & Toubro for high-altitude deployment.
Firepower designed for modern battlefields
One of the most striking aspects of the Abhay and future FICV concepts is the emphasis on heavy firepower. The Abhay prototype was armed with a Bofors 40mm L/70 autocannon capable of firing armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds as well as high-explosive ammunition.The platform also featured anti-tank guided missile launchers capable of firing modified Milan missiles and potentially Konkurs-M systems. Secondary armament included a 7.62mm PKT machine gun and a Russian-designed AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher.A major focus was the fire-control system. DRDO developed an all-electric stabilised fire-control system with thermal imaging, laser range finding and ballistic computation capability. The system allowed accurate firing even while moving across rough terrain, something critical in mechanised combat.
Survivability and protection
Modern infantry combat vehicles are expected to survive not just direct fire but also artillery fragments, mines, drones and top-attack munitions. The Abhay programme therefore invested heavily in survivability technologies.The armoured prototype incorporated composite armour using ceramics, high-hardness steel, titanium armour and anti-fragment protection. DRDO claimed this reduced weight by more than 40 per cent compared to equivalent steel armour while maintaining strong protection levels.The vehicle also featured an Integrated Fire Suppression System (IFSS), laser warning systems and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection equipment. Such systems are increasingly becoming standard requirements for future armoured warfare platforms.
DRDO’s latest Advanced Armoured Platforms
In April 2026, DRDO unveiled what it called “Advanced Armoured Platforms”, widely viewed as part of the ongoing competition to develop India’s future BMP replacement. These tracked and wheeled platforms were jointly developed with Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge.According to DRDO, the vehicles are equipped with high-power engines, automatic transmissions and amphibious capabilities supported by hydro-jets. The platforms are designed around emerging operational requirements of the Indian Army.
The newly revealed platform features a crewless turret carrying a 30mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun and anti-tank guided missiles.The advantage of a crewless turret is that it makes additional space in the chassis, this would allow troops in the vehicle to carry extra equipment such as drones or Loitering Munitions (LM) in to battle. The vehicle should also have the capability to defend against LM.The platform reportedly provides STANAG Level-5 protection, offering substantial resistance against ballistic and blast threats.
Why tracked and wheeled vehicles both matter
The Army’s evolving requirements suggest India may eventually operate both tracked and wheeled infantry combat vehicles depending on terrain.According to sources, tracked vehicles are considered more suitable for deserts and semi-desert sectors such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, where mobility across soft terrain is critical. Wheeled platforms, meanwhile, are preferred for plains and potentially mountainous terrain where road mobility and lower maintenance become important advantages.
This dual-platform approach reflects global trends where armies increasingly mix tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles based on operational requirements.
The race among Indian defence companies
The FICV programme has become one of the most competitive defence manufacturing races in India. Public sector entities such as Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) are competing alongside private companies including Larsen & Toubro, Tata Motors and Mahindra Defence Systems.The programme aligns strongly with India’s push for defence indigenisation and reduced reliance on imported military hardware. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier emphasised the role of private industry in defence manufacturing during the inauguration of the Larsen & Toubro Armoured Systems Complex in Gujarat.
“Boosting ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector is our endeavour. I am glad that the private sector too is supporting this pursuit and making a valuable contribution.”The scale of the project is enormous. While earlier Requests for Information suggested procurement of around 2,000 to 2,200 tracked vehicles, Army projections indicate eventual requirements could exceed 3,500 vehicles across tracked and wheeled variants including reserves.
What about the US Stryker?
The emergence of indigenous Indian armoured platforms has also triggered debate regarding foreign alternatives such as the American Stryker armoured vehicle.According to reports, the Stryker faces limitations in meeting Indian Army requirements due to its lack of amphibious capability, a critical operational feature for Indian conditions. Questions have also reportedly been raised regarding its performance in high-altitude terrain.This has strengthened arguments in favour of a domestically designed platform tailored specifically to India’s geography and operational doctrine.
The future of India’s mechanised warfare
The FICV programme represents far more than an equipment upgrade. It is effectively India’s attempt to create a modern battlefield ecosystem built around indigenous technology, modular warfare capabilities and network-centric operations.Future infantry combat vehicles are expected to operate alongside tanks, drones, artillery and battlefield management systems in highly integrated combat environments. Features such as active protection systems, AI-assisted targeting, thermal imaging, drone deployment and digital communications are increasingly becoming standard battlefield expectations rather than optional extras.
India’s mechanised forces are therefore moving away from Cold War-era armoured doctrines towards a more flexible, technology-driven and survivable combat architecture.Whether the final FICV platform emerges from DRDO, AVNL, Tata, Mahindra, L&T or a consortium model, the programme is likely to define the future of Indian armoured warfare for decades. The lessons learned from the Abhay programme, combined with the latest generation of indigenous armoured technologies, have already laid the groundwork for a new era in India’s military modernisation.
