India's FICVs will be equipped with American aerospace company Lockheed Martin's Javelin ATGMs. Javelin is a medium-range, manportable, shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget, lock-on before launch ATGM system. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
India's Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICVs) will be equipped with American aerospace company Lockheed Martin's Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the company told Janes at the Aero India 2023 show, which is being held in Bangalore from 13 to 17 February.
Jagmohan Singh, Lockheed Martin's regional director of India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka told Janes that the companies developing FICVs for the Indian Army are equipping the vehicles with Javelin.
“The companies such as Tata, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Mahindra, and ordinance factory boards, which are developing FICVs for the Indian Army have asked for Javelin ATGMs to be equipped on the vehicles,” Singh said.
In January, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of FICVs for the Indian Army. The Indian Army has been trying to procure FICVs to replace its fleets of Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty (BMP)-1 and BMP-2 vehicles.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the FICV should be amphibious and equip a manned turret with the future combat system (FCS), and fire-and-forget top-attack ATGMs.
Singh said that the Javelin is the only ATGM that provides the fire-and-forget capability. “DRDO is trying to develop the capability with its Nag ATGM but failing,” he added.
According to Janes Weapons: Infantry, the Javelin is a medium-range, manportable, shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget, lock-on before launch (LOBL) ATGM system.
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