After the failure of the program to re-equip its own development of armored vehicles, India again turned a closer look at the Russian BMP.
The reason is simple and ordinary. Everything rested, as usual, in the money. Initially, the Indian government offered military companies to implement the project of the Indian infantry fighting vehicle FICV. For its part, it promised to finance the project by 80%, the remaining 20% - the developers of military equipment had to invest. Five companies responded to this offer. But then suddenly the Ministry of Defense of the country introduced some amendments to the state undertaking of rearmament. According to the military department doctrine refreshed on the fly, the main share of funding now must be assumed by private companies, and after the successful implementation of the project, the government will purchase hundreds of established BMPs. But in private companies somehow did not feel the excitement of such a proposal by the Ministry of Defense.
By the way, the total cost of implementing this program, according to plans, was about 600 billion rupees. In terms of convertible currency - about 8.6 billion US dollars.
In general, the program has stalled. According to the official version, this was due to procedural delays. According to some data, the implementation of the program may take years to 30–2050 years. In the meantime, India’s neighbors, especially Pakistan, are actively re-equipping their armored units. And this fact is very worried about the country's leadership.
At the moment in service with India are actively buying Russian BMP.
According to experts, this is a recognition that Soviet and Russian development BMPs will be indispensable for the Indian Army for decades to come.
By the way, according to the projects, the promising Indian BMP FICV must conduct network-centric hostilities, destroying not only the enemy's living force, but also its UAV, helicopters and light-armored vehicles.
