Breaking news
Army of India will upgrade its armoured vehicles BMP-2 and BMP-2 K with new powerful engine 2711112.
| 2011
a | |||
Defense News - India |
|||
Sunday, November 27, 2011, 05:26 PM | |||
Army of India will upgrade its armoured vehicles BMP-2 and BMP-2 K with new powerful engine. | |||
India
is preparing to upgrade around 1,500 BMP-2 and BMP-2K Infantry Combat
Vehicles (ICVs) with more powerful engines to enhance their cross-country
mobility, floatation and gradient negotiating capability and mount more
lethal weapon systems on board. All of this will make the ICVs robust
killer machines. |
|||
Army of India BMP-2 armoured infantry fighting vehicle at firing range |
|||
"The
Indian Army is looking for a new power pack with minimum 380 horsepower
engine for the BMP-2 and BMP-2K ICVs," a senior defence ministry
official told IANS. The BMP-2 is the main combat vehicle of the Indian Army's Mechanised Infantry regiments used for breaching enemy defences and for troops thrusting forward into enemy territory. "Since the upgrading of the BMP-2 and BMP-2k ICVs are at an advanced stage, the army wants to get the new engine for the combat vehicles at the earliest," the official added. At present, the BMP-2 and BMP-2K command vehicles are running on Russian-origin UTD-20 engines, which have been indigenised by India through technology transfer. The UTD-20 provides a 285 horsepower output that is considered inadequate as it adversely impacts the ICV's functioning. The UTD-20 is the original engine of the BMP-1 ICV and is being used in the BMP-2 and BMP-2K even though they are more than 1,000 kg heavier. "A more powerful engine is required to make the BMP-2 more efficient in cross-country mobility, floatation and gradient negotiating, apart from providing it the ability to take more add-on systems and weapons," the official said. "It is imperative that the existing UTD-20 engine is replaced with a new minimum 380 horsepower engine, thereby offering greater mobility to the BMP-2 and BMP-2K," the official added. The army is hopeful the new engine will enable the BMP-2 and BMP-2K ICVs to touch 50 kmph during cross-country, 70 kmph on roads and 7 kmph in forward gear during still water floatation. |
|||
Army of India BMP-2K command post light armoured vehicle |
|||