India Army Indian Army Armour Archive

[Joe Shearer]

MOD EDIT: Thread updated for all armour related news of IA.

Modernized Sprut-SDM1 tank
Russian Ministry of Defense will soon kick-off state trials of modernized Sprut-SDM1 tank.
“The upgraded version of the Sprut-SDM1 light amphibious tank will undergo state tests. Based on their results, the documentation will be approved, which will allow starting the serial production of tanks,” state-run Rostec said in a Twitter statement today.
On August 21, Rostec’s subsidiary High-Precision Systems handed over prototypes of the modernized tank to the defense ministry for state trials that will take place for a year and a half.
"Sprut-SDM1" will be tested in sea and high altitude conditions, in different climatic zones, including at air temperatures from -40 to +40 degree Celsius.
Rostec claims that the tank “has become more mobile” due to the installation of new engine, undercarriage assemblies, chassis and control system, which have already been tested on BMD-4M and BMP-3. It has better command control system, updated software and hardware complex for operation as part of an automated tactical control system. Combat power is enhanced by a new digital fire control system.
“There are no analogues of Sprut-SDM1 in the world, and therefore it has a high export potential,” said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation.
Light amphibious tank "Sprut-SDM1" is a combat armored tracked amphibious vehicle with an artillery and missile system of weapons of 125 mm calibre. It has a range of 500km without refueling. The tank can be transported by ships, transport aircraft. It is capable of parachute landing with crew on-board.

Sprut-SDM1 tank
The vehicle is capable of conducting combat operations in high mountains and hot tropical climates against highly armored vehicles, fortified strongholds and enemy manpower, without preparation to overcome water obstacles in waves of up to 3 points while firing afloat. If necessary, the tank can be equipped with snow and swamp tracks, which further expands the possibilities of its use.
“In terms of firepower, the Sprut-SDM1 is not inferior to the T-80, T-90 tanks, and in terms of mobility on land and water it is at the level of the BMD-4M. These and other qualities, combined with the circular rotation of the turret and stabilization of weapons in two planes, make it possible to use the Sprut-SDM1 as a light amphibious tank," said Alexander Denisov, General Director of the High Precision Complexes NPO.
The machine was designed and developed by PJSC Kurganmashzavod, which is part of the High-Precision Complexes holding of the State Corporation Rostec.

India Is Headed For a War With China No One Wants, Here's What It Should Do to Prevent It

In a scenario strongly reminiscent of 1962, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could help in reducing tension by giving some strong public assurances.

thewire.in

 

[Nilgiri]

Must Upgrade 811 ‘Nightblind’ BMPs To Handle ‘Belligerent Neighbours’, Says Army

Must Upgrade 811 'Nightblind' BMPs To Handle 'Belligerent Neighbours', Says Army - Livefist

Chinese hostilities in eastern Ladakh appear to have compelled -- and coloured -- the Indian Army's latest effort to upgrade the firepower on over 800 BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles. In a formal request for information (RFI) scouting armament packages from Indian industry, the Army notes...

www.livefistdefence.com

Chinese hostilities in eastern Ladakh appear to have compelled — and coloured — the Indian Army’s latest effort to upgrade the firepower on over 800 BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles. In a formal request for information (RFI) scouting armament packages from Indian industry, the Army notes, “The terrain along our borders lends itself to conduct of large scale mechanised operations and the belligerence of our adversaries on the borders necessitate that our capabilities are adequately built up to match the threat.”

That ongoing military tensions have found mention an otherwise staid procurement document is telling, and perhaps points to the all-consuming nature of the standoff with China which has escalated steadily since early May and seen multiple violent clashes, most notably one on June 15 in the Galwan River valley where 20 Indian Army personnel and at least 16 Chinese personnel lost their lives. Incidentally, Indian Army BMP fighting vehicles, the kind it is now trying to fit better weapons on, were deployed in the area of the Galwan clash, and withdrawn over a month after the bloodshed.

An element of exasperation also appears to have filtered into the Army’s RFI document, especially the curiously categorical declaration that the BMP fleet is ‘night blind as on date’ and that this is a ‘critical operational void’. Documents like these are generally pretty vanilla when identifying the nature of the requirement being addressed, and always stay away from articulating voids of any kind, even if they’re obvious.

“Battlefield illumination does not limit itself to specific ammunition but also to have inherent night fighting capability existing in each weapon system. The present equipment of Mechanised Infantry i.e BMP-2/2K was inducted into service in 1985 and has been the mainstay equipment of Mechanised Infantry since then. The armament system is night blind as on date and needs to be upgraded with modern sights thereby fulfilling the critical operational void,” says the Army’s document published on September 4.

The Indian Army wants Indian vendors to prototype an upgraded weapons package for the BMP and outline its offer by October 16. The Army has stated that the package must include a 3rd generation thermal imager based gunner sight, 3rd generation thermal imager based panoramic commander sight, a modernised fire Control System, automatic target tracker. The Army wants all of these to elevate the existing weapons on the BMP.

The Army goes on to provide reasons for the nightfighting upgrade request: “The present armament sighting system in use is based on image intensifier technology which has its limitations and is not fit for modern day warfare. Present system is also deficient of modernised fire control system and automatic target tracker which adversely affects the capability of BMP-2/2K to fight both during day and night. All these aspects are critical requirements for Mechanised Infantry to operate in armour intensive battlefield. The capability being sought is to offset the existing deficiency in BMP-2/2K platform and thereby bringing it at par with other modern war fighting equipment of Indian Army.“

In June, the Indian MoD cleared decks for the Indian Army to order 156 upgraded BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles from the the Ordnance Factory Board which has license-built them for years in Medak, Telangana. Deliveries begin next year, and are to be completed by 2023. In July, the MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council also approved specific upgrades for the BMP fleet. The current quest for night-fighting upgrades is part of that effort. The Indian Army also has ongoing efforts to acquire new powerpacks and fitting new anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) as part of a larger upgrade thrust that’s been on for years.

Upgrading the BMP fleet also popped up in a recent video interview that Livefist did with Indian Army Armoured Corps veteran Maj Gen Birender Dhanoa on the topic of the Indian Army’s light tank requirement in Ladakh. In the interview, he speaks extensively on how the Army ought to prioritise the modernisation of its BMP-2/2K fleet before considering new platforms. You can watch that full illuminating interview here:

 

[Philip the Arab]

@Nilgiri My friend I think BMP-2M upgrade along with Indian thermals would be a good idea.

 

[Kartal1]

Indian Army seeks to upgrade more than 800 BMP-2/2K ICVs

by Samuel Cranny-Evans




The Indian Army (IA) has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from local vendors by 16 October regarding the planned upgrade of 811 of its licence-built BMP-2/2K ‘Sarath’ infantry combat vehicles (ICVs).

The IA said on 4 September that it requires potential vendors to develop a BMP-2/2K prototype fitted with third-generation, thermal imager-based gunner and panoramic commander sights, a modern fire-control system, and an automatic target tracker.

The IA has invited EoIs from local vendors by 16 October regarding the planned upgrade of 811 of its BMP-2/2K ‘Sarath’ ICVs (similar to this one). (V K Singh/Indian MoD)
The service noted that the upgrades will be carried out under the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Defence Procurement Procedure-2016, and indicated that all the add-ons will be required to feature at least 40% indigenous content.

Each of the shortlisted vendors, which the IA referred to as “development agencies “(DAs), will eventually be provided with one BMP-2/2K to integrate their respective systems. Industry officials said the prototypes are likely to undergo trials some 24 months after the DAs are selected.

In a rare admission the IA said that its BMP-2/2Ks have been “night blind” and that their sighting systems, which are based on image intensification technology, are “not fit for modern day warfare”.

Moreover, it said that the lack of modernised fire-control and automatic tracker systems have “adversely affected” the platform’s day and night-fighting capabilities.

Indian Army seeks to upgrade more than 800 BMP-2/2K ICVs

The Indian Army (IA) has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from local vendors by 16 October regarding the planned upgrade of 811 of its licence-built BMP-2/2K...

www.janes.com

 

[Gary]

@Nilgiri My friend I think BMP-2M upgrade along with Indian thermals would be a good idea.


View attachment 1172

Specs?

 

[Philip the Arab]

Specs?

Full info from manufacturer, and PDF there too. Quite odd is that the turret only has 2 missiles here but the Algerian BMP-2M has 4 missiles. I think the one on the website I shared is using Ataka while Russian and Algerian use Kornet.

Infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2M (sb4-3) | Catalog Rosoboronexport

The BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicle is designed to equip motor rifle infantry units, improve mobility, armament and protection of the personnel operating on the battlefield, including in NBC environm...

roe.ru

 

[Gary]

Must Upgrade 811 ‘Nightblind’ BMPs To Handle ‘Belligerent Neighbours’, Says Army

Must Upgrade 811 'Nightblind' BMPs To Handle 'Belligerent Neighbours', Says Army - Livefist

Chinese hostilities in eastern Ladakh appear to have compelled -- and coloured -- the Indian Army's latest effort to upgrade the firepower on over 800 BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles. In a formal request for information (RFI) scouting armament packages from Indian industry, the Army notes...

www.livefistdefence.com

Chinese hostilities in eastern Ladakh appear to have compelled — and coloured — the Indian Army’s latest effort to upgrade the firepower on over 800 BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles. In a formal request for information (RFI) scouting armament packages from Indian industry, the Army notes, “The terrain along our borders lends itself to conduct of large scale mechanised operations and the belligerence of our adversaries on the borders necessitate that our capabilities are adequately built up to match the threat.”

That ongoing military tensions have found mention an otherwise staid procurement document is telling, and perhaps points to the all-consuming nature of the standoff with China which has escalated steadily since early May and seen multiple violent clashes, most notably one on June 15 in the Galwan River valley where 20 Indian Army personnel and at least 16 Chinese personnel lost their lives. Incidentally, Indian Army BMP fighting vehicles, the kind it is now trying to fit better weapons on, were deployed in the area of the Galwan clash, and withdrawn over a month after the bloodshed.

An element of exasperation also appears to have filtered into the Army’s RFI document, especially the curiously categorical declaration that the BMP fleet is ‘night blind as on date’ and that this is a ‘critical operational void’. Documents like these are generally pretty vanilla when identifying the nature of the requirement being addressed, and always stay away from articulating voids of any kind, even if they’re obvious.

“Battlefield illumination does not limit itself to specific ammunition but also to have inherent night fighting capability existing in each weapon system. The present equipment of Mechanised Infantry i.e BMP-2/2K was inducted into service in 1985 and has been the mainstay equipment of Mechanised Infantry since then. The armament system is night blind as on date and needs to be upgraded with modern sights thereby fulfilling the critical operational void,” says the Army’s document published on September 4.

The Indian Army wants Indian vendors to prototype an upgraded weapons package for the BMP and outline its offer by October 16. The Army has stated that the package must include a 3rd generation thermal imager based gunner sight, 3rd generation thermal imager based panoramic commander sight, a modernised fire Control System, automatic target tracker. The Army wants all of these to elevate the existing weapons on the BMP.

The Army goes on to provide reasons for the nightfighting upgrade request: “The present armament sighting system in use is based on image intensifier technology which has its limitations and is not fit for modern day warfare. Present system is also deficient of modernised fire control system and automatic target tracker which adversely affects the capability of BMP-2/2K to fight both during day and night. All these aspects are critical requirements for Mechanised Infantry to operate in armour intensive battlefield. The capability being sought is to offset the existing deficiency in BMP-2/2K platform and thereby bringing it at par with other modern war fighting equipment of Indian Army.“

In June, the Indian MoD cleared decks for the Indian Army to order 156 upgraded BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles from the the Ordnance Factory Board which has license-built them for years in Medak, Telangana. Deliveries begin next year, and are to be completed by 2023. In July, the MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council also approved specific upgrades for the BMP fleet. The current quest for night-fighting upgrades is part of that effort. The Indian Army also has ongoing efforts to acquire new powerpacks and fitting new anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) as part of a larger upgrade thrust that’s been on for years.

Upgrading the BMP fleet also popped up in a recent video interview that Livefist did with Indian Army Armoured Corps veteran Maj Gen Birender Dhanoa on the topic of the Indian Army’s light tank requirement in Ladakh. In the interview, he speaks extensively on how the Army ought to prioritise the modernisation of its BMP-2/2K fleet before considering new platforms. You can watch that full illuminating interview here:

BMP 2's are obsolete I'm afraid,the latest Chinese IFV not only larger, better armed, better protected, it's size allow for better occupants comfort.Many I believe are also equipped with long range surveillance system.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1297989290194948096

 

[Nilgiri]

BMP 2's are obsolete I'm afraid,the latest Chinese IFV not only larger, better armed, better protected, it's size allow for better occupants comfort.Many I believe are also equipped with long range surveillance system.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1297989290194948096

Not many options for India given already limited budget...and priorities needing to be sorted elsewhere first.

We need to extract maximum mileage out of whatever bulk numbered systems we have right now.

Besides IFV wont be taking on IFV per se...so it will not boil down to some kind of 1v1 times X etc.

There is a number of tactical doctrine to use in engaging mechanized infantry, especially with defender's advantage.

 

[Nilgiri]

Indian Army Spotted Using French Armored Vehicles In Kashmir For Anti-Terror Operations

Indian news outlet operating from Jammu and Kashmir – Greater Kashmir revealed that the nation’s paramilitary forces have deployed the famous Sherpa armored vehicles in the region. Faulty Chinese Military Hardware Is Paving Way For India To Emerge As A Global Weapons Exporter The vehicle is...

eurasiantimes.com

Pic from facebook:

Sherpa spotted in Kashmir @Vergennes

 

[Nilgiri]

Thread for all armour related news of IA.

OshoCorp to Supply Auxiliary Power Units for Indian T-72, T-90 Tanks

OshoCorp Global is selected by Indian Army for development & supply of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of Russian origin T-72 and T-90 Tanks. The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is an alternate source of power for the Fire Control System of the Tank and ancillaries, to cater for power requirements, while...

www.defenseworld.net

OshoCorp Global is selected by Indian Army for development & supply of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of Russian origin T-72 and T-90 Tanks.

The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is an alternate source of power for the Fire Control System of the Tank and ancillaries, to cater for power requirements, while deployed in surveillance mode during a lull in battle, and during training, with a view to conserve the life of main engine of the Tank.

India-based OshoCorp Global CEO Ashutosh Khate explained,“initially we are required to develop two APUs each for T-90 and T-72 Tanks for trial & approval and subsequently produce a total order of 3257 Nos APUs. The project will help India towards self reliance in APU manufacturing technology for Tanks.

Col PK Juneja, Head Special Projects at OshoCorp explained, the present project cost is more than INR 1325 Crore (USD 190 Million) and it has huge potential to generate future domestic & export business which can be many times more than the current procurement of APUs as it is a continuous requirement keeping in mind the present inventory of T-72, T-90, Arjun Tank and BMPs held by the Indian armed forces and expected new tank supplies in coming years.

In the export market, the countries using Russian T-72, T-90 Tanks can be benefited by procurring India’s development of Auxiliary Power Unit for tanks.

OshoCorp Global is a Defence & Aerospace StartUp with ISO 9001:2015 certification, having NCAGE No. 1691Y (NATO). OshoCorp is in receipt of multiple Defence Industrial License’s (DIL) from Goverment of India for manufacturing Restricted & Sensitive Defence Systems, Weapon platforms & Ammunition including Auxiliary Power Units (APU) & Environmental control units (ECU) for Tanks.

 

[Zapper]

Mahindra LSV Deployed by UN

Mahindra Ambulance MPV

 

[Zapper]

Tata Merlin LSV

Shri Lakshmi Defence Solutions - Viper

Mahindra Marksman

Mahindra MEVA Straton Plus

 

[Zapper]

Mahindra MPV

DRDO-Tata WhAP

Tata MPV

Ashok Leyland Medium Bullet Proof Vehicle (MBPV)

Tata Kestrel

Mahindra ALSV

 

[Zapper]

Mahindra MPV in UN Operations

 

[Zapper]

IA's Aditya MPV, JKP-SOG's Tata MPV and Takshak APC in Kashmir

 

[Nilgiri]

IA's Aditya MPV, JKP-SOG's Tata MPV and Takshak APC in Kashmir

View attachment 7139

View attachment 7141

View attachment 7142

View attachment 7140

View attachment 7145

Sure have come a long way since our forces were stuck with maruti gypsies, leyland trucks and those small vans and pickups....there was barely any attention given to armour + protection back then...but still long way to go.

 

[Zapper]

Sure have come a long way since our forces were stuck with maruti gypsies, leyland trucks and those small vans and pickups....there was barely any attention given to armour + protection back then...but still long way to go.

Pretty much all gypsies have been replaced by Tata Safari Stormes

and to some extent, the Mahindra Scorpio Rakshak + have also been procured

Force Motors LSV recently showcased by SF during the Army Day

IA primarily uses OFB's Aditya MPV while private company MPVs are being used by paramilitary forces

Mahindra MPV being handed over to Jharkhand police anti-naxal unit

 

[Zapper]

IA should start procuring weapons systems and platforms from private firms. There should be a complete import ban on armoured vehicles and artillery systems without any exceptions. I would really like to see Tata's Merlin LSV, Mahindra's ALSV and MBPV with IA

View attachment 7157

 

[Zapper]

From left to right

Kalyani Paramount M4, Bharat Forge MPV, Kalyani Paramount Maverick Armoured Troop Carrier spotted testing in Ladakh

 

[Zapper]

BEML Gaur MPV