Modernising Indian Army’s Combat Mobility: Made In India Future Infantry Combat Vehicle May Get Approval Soon

The fate of the $8 billion dollar Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) project to modernise the Indian Army’s combat mobility is likely to be discussed at a meeting of stakeholders with Defence Secretary, Production Ajay Kumar on 9 January 2019, reports Financial Express.

The original date for the meeting was 12 December 2018 but the schedule had to be postponed as officials were not available on the said date. At the upcoming meeting, plans for the future course of action regarding the project are to be decided.

The project is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, and is going to come under the category of ‘Make II’.

However, there are some contentious issues between the Indian Army and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which need to be resolved before the project sees fruition. “The main issue, where there is divergence of views, is that the MoD wants the Indian Army to pay for this project,” stated an officer.

If clearance is granted at the meeting, then the FICV project will need final approval from the Defence Acquisition Council. As per Make in India guidelines, units of the combat vehicle will have to manufactured with at least 40 per cent indigenous content.

As of now, three Indian companies, namely Mahindra and Mahindra, Reliance Defence and Engineering, and Titagarh Wagons have conveyed their proposals to the MoD for the project.