India’s futuristic FRCVs set to replace Soviet-era tanks with AI, drones, and unmatched firepower

India's battles with Soviet-era tanks will soon come to an end. In September last year, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the capital procurement of 10 proposals worth ₹1.45 lakh crore. One of the highlights was India’s future tanks—the Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV)—that are Made in India and will replace up to the four decade-old Soviet-origin T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBT)s and their upgraded versions like the T-72 Mk-1 Ajeya and T-72 Mk-2.

The Indian FRCVs, which will be the face of India's battle tank capabilities in future, will have AI-powered fire control system that can switch between different modes, including hunter-killer, killer-killer, and automatic target detection and tracking, integrated drones for reconnaissance and surveillance, seamless integration with network-centric warfare and advanced communication capabilities. The FRCVs should survive both soft and hard kill systems and counter various anti-tank threats and will have a combination of explosive reactive armor, adjustable non-explosive reactive armor, and belly protection against IEDs and mines, besides Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats.

The plan is to develop and induct about 1,770 FRCV MBTs by 2030 in the initial phase, estimated to cost around ₹60,000 crore, of which 70% of the development cost will be funded by the government and the remaining by the Indian development partner. In March, public sector defence specialists BEML and BHEL sought an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the selection of a technology partner to develop Armoured Fighting Vehicle- Future Ready Combat Vehicle (AFV-FRCV) for the Indian Army. Sources say private defence manufacturing leaders like L&T, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), and Mahindra Defence are planning to develop FRCVs with experienced foreign companies.

France's Leclerc tank maker Nexter, Russia's T-90 and T-14 Armata tank maker Uralvagonzavod, South Korea's Hyundai Rotem that developed one of the world's best MBT K2 Black Panther, and the US's General Dynamics, which makes one of the world's best M1AX Abrams tanks are the leaders in the FRCV market. Other foreign players with FRCV capabilities include Germany's KMW and Rheinmetall, Ukraine's T-84 tank maker Malyshev Plant, Italy's Iveco and Oto Melara, Serbia's Yugoimport, and Israel's Ordnance Corps, say sources.

Once the modalities are finalised, the Indian Army will officially raise the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the vendors to bid for the project. The shortlisted companies will have to make prototypes of the FRCV in the next 3–4 years in the developmental phase. The prototypes will then undergo tests and trials in different terrain and weather conditions and based on the trials and performances of the prototypes, the project will transition to the production phase, where the Indian Army will place final orders.