How DRDO’s new infantry combat vehicles mark an upgrade over India’s ageing fleet

What Happened

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) rolled out the first two prototypes of the Vikram VT-21 Advanced Armoured Platform (AAP) on April 25, 2026, at the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) facility in Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Maharashtra.
• The Vikram VT-21 is designed as a direct replacement for the Indian Army's ageing fleet of approximately 2,200 BMP-2 "Sarath" Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).
• Two variants have been developed: a tracked version (AAP-Tr) in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and a wheeled version (AAP-Wh) developed with Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge).
• The prototype has achieved approximately 65% indigenous content, with plans to scale this to 80–90% through phased localisation.
• The platform carries a 30mm cannon, advanced fire control, battlefield optics, and integrates the Nag Mk-2 (Prospina) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM).
• The Indian Army's projected requirement for the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme is estimated at 1,750–1,770 vehicles across multiple configurations (infantry, command, reconnaissance, surveillance).

Static Topic Bridges

BMP-2 Sarath: India's Existing Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The BMP-2 "Sarath" (Sanskrit for "Charioteer") is the Indian Army's primary Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), derived from the Soviet-designed Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty-2 (BMP-2). India initially ordered 700 BMP-2s from the Soviet Union in 1984 (delivered 1987–1991), followed by a licensed production agreement under which approximately 1,500 more were manufactured indigenously at Ordnance Factory Medak (now Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited — AVNL) between 1992 and the late 1990s. The Indian Army currently operates approximately 2,200 BMP-2/2K vehicles across 49 mechanised infantry battalions. The fleet is severely aged: roughly 800 vehicles are obsolete or near-obsolescence, with a significant portion over 20 years old. The BMP-2 was designed in the 1970s-Soviet era and lacks modern protection levels, fire control, and network-centric warfare capabilities.

Vikram VT-21 Advanced Armoured Platform: Key Specifications

The Vikram VT-21 is a modular platform capable of serving as both an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). It is named "Vikram" (Sanskrit: "valour/prowess"), following India's tradition of naming defence platforms after historical/mythological concepts.

Defence Acquisition Procedure and the FICV Programme

The Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme has been under deliberation since the mid-2000s. The programme was initially conceived as a competitive international tender, but following the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) policy thrust and the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020), the acquisition category was shifted to prioritise indigenous design and development. DAP 2020 — which replaced the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) — establishes a hierarchy of procurement categories that give top priority to "Buy (Indian-IDDM)" — Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured, requiring at least 50% indigenous content. The DRDO-developed Vikram VT-21 aligns with this category, with Defence Minister-level approval (DAC) and eventual Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval required before full-scale production orders are placed.

Public-Private Partnership in Indian Defence Manufacturing

The Vikram VT-21's collaborative development model — DRDO leading design with TASL (Tata group) and KSSL (Bharat Forge group) as manufacturing partners — exemplifies India's emerging Defence Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Historically, Indian defence production was dominated by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB — now restructured into seven DPSUs in 2021). The current policy actively encourages private sector participation through iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), Technology Development Fund (TDF), and the Make-II category of DAP 2020 (industry-funded development with government procurement guarantee).

Key Facts & Data

• VRDE (Vehicle Research and Development Establishment): Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra (under DRDO)
• Prototype rollout date: April 25, 2026
• Indian Army's BMP-2 Sarath fleet: approximately 2,200 vehicles; ~800 near-obsolescence
• BMP-2 production in India: Ordnance Factory Medak (now AVNL), starting 1992
• FICV programme requirement: 1,750–1,770 vehicles
• Vikram VT-21 variants: Tracked (with TASL) and Wheeled (with KSSL/Bharat Forge)
• Tracked variant: ~20 tonnes; Wheeled variant: ~24–27 tonnes
• Armament: 30mm cannon + Nag Mk-2 (Prospina) ATGM
• Crew/troop capacity: 3 crew + 8 infantry soldiers
• Indigenous content: ~65% (prototype); target 80–90%
• Nag Mk-2 (Prospina) ATGM: Third-generation, fire-and-forget, developed by DRDO; range approximately 4–7 km [Unverified: precise range specification pending official release]
• DAP 2020: Buy (Indian-IDDM) requires minimum 50% indigenous content
• OFB restructured into 7 DPSUs: October 2021