India's FICV Project Makes Progress

India’s defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar will hold a meeting with all the stakeholders in the $15 billion Future Infantry Combat Vehicle  (FICV) project to build 2610 vehicles for the Indian Army next week.

Talking to the media on the opening day of Aero India Air Show 2017, Manohar Parrikar said, everything has been discussed about the project and there are certain aspects that are to be finalized. He would be holding a meeting with the stakeholders next week.

The Indian Army had issued a Request for Information (RFI) in June 2015 to design and develop a new generation combat vehicle platform called the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).

The RFI is for the development of a base platform for the Main Battle Tank which is planned to replace the existing T-72 tanks in the Armored Corps. It is also planned to subsequently develop other need-based variants on this platform.

There was speculation that the FICV program had been abandoned following the issue of an RFI for the future ready combat vehicle (FRCV) a fortnight ago.

The FRCV program proposes the design and development of a modular system of vehicles to replace the T-72 tanks and spawn a host of variants including an armored fighting vehicle.

Tata Motors is one of several Indian and foreign countries invited by Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) to co-develop chassis, propulsion unit and weapon system for a wheeled armored amphibious platform under the FICV (wheeled) program.