Indian Army formulates requirements for FMBT

[sudhir007]

Indian Army formulates requirements for FMBT - Brahmand.com

The government Monday said the Army has formulated its requirements for a Future Main Battle Tank, which is likely to be developed by the year 2020.

"Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirement of Future Main Battle Tank has been formulated by the Army...It is likely to be developed by the year 2020," Defence Minister A K Antony told Lok Sabha in reply to a written query.

For its future warfare requirements, the Army wants its futuristic tank to be lighter and more capable than that of the present ones in its inventory such as the T-90, Arjun and the T-72 tanks, he said.

The Indian Army has over 3,000 tanks in its fleet, which includes a majority of Russian-origin T-72 and T-55, which are likely to be replaced in the near future.

 

[LEO99]

LIGHTER THAN T72,T90? WHAT THEY WANT ,APC TO PERFORM ROLE OF TANKS?

 

[IND151]

i think fmbt will be based on t90 but will have seven wheels and unmanned turret.

 

[sathya]

Indian MoD Reports Steps Toward New Tank
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 6 Dec 2010 14:23 NEW DELHI - Requirements for the Indian Army's Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) have been finalized, the Defence Ministry here announced Dec. 6, and the tank will be developed by the government's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) by 2020.

The Army has completed its Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirement for the tank, according to the ministry's official statement. The DRDO is carrying out FMBT feasibility studies. Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Indian parliament of these developments Dec. 6, the statement said.

Sources in the Indian Army said the proposed tank will be in the 40-metric-tons category and will be mounted with a 125mm gun. Six prototypes will be developed by 2020 before the FMBT enters bulk production.

The tank will be difficult to detect by enemy radar, according to the Army's requirements.

Other advanced features will include capability to fire kinetic weapons and missiles, an active protection system, and hybrid armor to protect the tank against improvised explosive devices. The tank will be capable of night combat operations, surveillance and reconnaissance, and strategic mobility. It will have a third-generation transmission system, integrated fire-control system with laser finders, battlefield management system and mine-detection system.

The FMBT project is a follow-up of the Indian-built Arjun main battle tank project, which started in 1973, though the tank has yet to be adopted by the Army for combat.