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.
