SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant move towards enhancing the Indian Army’s reconnaissance and support capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reissued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 198 Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (WH AFV Recce & Support). The project falls under the Buy Indian – IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) category, reaffirming the government’s commitment to boosting Indigenous defence manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative.
The MoD has retained the “Buy Indian – IDDM” category as per the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016, emphasizing the need for Indian vendors and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to supply indigenously developed platforms.
he WH AFV (Recce & Support) will be deployed in the plain sectors of Punjab and Rajasthan. These vehicles are intended for employment in Reconnaissance and Support Battalions, where they will provide high mobility and superior firepower across challenging terrains, including areas interspersed with rivers and canals.
The vehicle must be capable of Cross-Country operations across developed sectors, making it essential for the WH AFV to have high mobility, adequate armour protection, and an armament configuration suitable to destroy enemy tanks and ensure local protection.
The Indian Army has set forth stringent requirements for the Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicle Recce & Support (WH AFV R & Sp), aiming to enhance battlefield survivability and offensive capability. The key specifications include:
- ATGM System: The vehicle must be equipped with two twin-launch LR ATGM (Long-Range Anti-Tank Guided Missiles), featuring fire-and-forget capability and tandem warheads. The ATGM should achieve a minimum penetration of 650mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) beyond Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), with a hit probability of over 90%. The missile should have a minimum range of 500 meters and a maximum range of at least 4 kilometres in direct-fire mode.
- Portable ATGM Launcher: In addition to the vehicle-mounted ATGM, a man-portable ground launcher capable of firing the same ATGM as the mounted system is required. This feature ensures operational flexibility, allowing dismounted troops to engage targets with the same missile.
- Primary Armament: A 30mm Cannon with a 7.62mm Coaxial Machine Gun is mandatory, with both weapons capable of firing standard in-service ammunition. A Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) is desirable, further enhancing the vehicle’s firepower. Internal storage should accommodate 500 rounds of 30mm ammunition and 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Vendors participating in the RFP must be capable of delivering the entire quantity of 198 WH AFV (Recce & Support) within four years of signing the contract. The MoD has invited OEMs and vendors to submit detailed information on the products they can offer, along with their capabilities to meet the outlined requirements.
The RFP was initially scheduled for release in July 2020, but has been reissued now to address updated requirements and to ensure the Indian Army is equipped with state-of-the-art, locally developed armoured vehicles.
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