SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Allison Transmission has been chosen to supply its advanced 3040 MX cross-drive transmission for all three Government-funded original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) participating in India’s Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) prototype programme. This landmark selection underscores Allison’s expertise in delivering high-performance mobility solutions for modern military applications.
The FICV programme is a critical initiative to modernise the Indian Army’s armoured fleet by replacing its aging BMP-II Infantry Fighting Vehicles with cutting-edge, domestically manufactured combat vehicles. Designed to enhance operational capability, the FICV aims to deliver superior mobility, firepower, and survivability on the battlefield.
Allison has collaborated closely with L&T, Tata, and Mahindra to integrate and optimize the 3040 MX for their prototypes, managing engineering design, development, fabrication, testing, and demonstration through 2024. The transmission’s selection by all three OEMs highlights its superior performance, as noted by Dana Pittard, Vice President for Defense Programs at Allison: “This selection is a testament to the superior durability, reliability, and performance of our 3040 MX transmission.”
The FICV program is a cornerstone of the Indian Army’s efforts to replace its fleet of over 2,000 Soviet-era BMP-II IFVs, which have been in service since the 1980s and lack modern night-fighting, anti-drone, and active protection capabilities. Designed to equip India’s Mechanized Infantry and Armoured Corps, the FICV is a fully tracked, amphibious armored vehicle available in multiple variants: Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), Reconnaissance and Surveillance, and Command and Control. The Indian Army plans to procure approximately 1,750 FICVs over the next two decades, with a potential revenue opportunity for Allison Transmission estimated at several hundred million dollars.
The program, initiated in 2008, has faced delays due to bureaucratic hurdles and shifting procurement policies but gained momentum under the “Make in India” framework, which emphasizes indigenous design and production. The FICV is expected to feature a 30mm automatic cannon, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS), and advanced electronics, making it a versatile platform for countering threats from Pakistan and China, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Three government-funded OEMs—Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Advanced Systems, and Mahindra Defence Systems—are competing to develop FICV prototypes, with Allison’s 3040 MX transmission integrated into each design. L&T, which showcased an in-house designed fighting compartment prototype, is a frontrunner, planning to manufacture the FICV at its Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, if selected.
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