05th August 2015 - 9:38 by Neelam Mathews in Delhi
India has re-started its
Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme but industry is not convinced
it will come to fruition.
An Indian OEM has told Shephard that
developing prototype vehicles requires a significant amount of investment and
the specifications are too demanding.
‘The project is long winded as
it involves forming partnerships with foreign vendors and a customised design
for the FICV according to the complicated needs proposed by the Indian Army,’
the OEM said.
‘No company will invest
capability on the basis of a probability of being chosen…. Besides the specs
are too demanding for the project to see light of day,’ the company added.
The Ministry of Defence has
issued an Expression of Intent (EOI) to ten bidders for approximately 2600 FICV
for the Indian Army.
The government’s FICV brief
states the multi-role platform should move alongside armoured (tanks), provide
fire-support for guns, have amphibious capability to cross rivers and be air
portable.
An official told Shephard the
high indigenous content specified was unlikely to be met in India: ‘Engine, ........more on Shephard (subscribe)
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