Key Points and Summary: India’s Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program, also known as Project Ranjeet, is a major modernization effort to replace Soviet-era T-72 tanks with advanced, domestically produced armor.
-Expected to feature cutting-edge firepower, mobility, and active protection systems, the FRCV will enhance India’s military posture, particularly along its tense border with China.
Russian T-72 tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Alongside this, India is also developing a new 25-ton light tank for high-altitude operations, similar to the U.S. Army’s M10 Booker.
-With a focus on indigenous manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, these developments signal a significant shift in India’s defense capabilities and strategic readiness.
Project Ranjeet: India’s Plan to Replace Soviet-Era T-72 Tanks
India’s Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program, also known as Project Ranjeet, is a significant effort to modernize the Indian Army’s armored capabilities. It was initiated to replace the aging fleet of Soviet-era T-72 main battle tanks and aims to yield a new, modern main battle tank.
While details about the specific design, armament, and capabilities of the FRCV remain scarce, expectations are that the platform will incorporate advanced technologies such as improved firepower, active protection systems, and better mobility, as well as modernized fire control systems.
“Defence sources indicated that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is expected to approve issuing a tender worth approximately Rs 70,000 crore to Indian shipyards under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, including private sector shipyards,” The Economic Times reported.
The Indian Army would reportedly like to acquire 1,700 new tanks, with at least 60 percent of their components and parts manufactured domestically.
The Future Ready Combat Vehicle is one component of a broader Indian defense initiative. In addition to the Future Ready Combat Vehicles, the Indian Navy is also seeking to acquire up to seven stealth frigates, dubbed Project 17 Bravo, and estimated to cost approximately Rs 70,000 crore.
Border Disputes
One of the primary drivers of India’s modernization effort is the escalating security challenges, with particular consideration given to China. The Ladakh region, as well as several other locations, form a part of India’s northern border with China and has been a flashpoint for tensions along their disputed borders.
Light Armor — in India as well as in the United States
Alongside the FRCV program, India is also developing a new light tank to augment its capabilities in the high-altitude environments characteristic of their border with China. Unlike heavier main battle tanks, which could struggle in mountainous terrain both in terms of mobility but also logistical support, a lighter tank would be of clear advantage thanks to better ease of transportation at altitude.
“Speaking at the Indian Armour Symposium, Lt Gen Vivek Kashyap, director general of Armoured Corps, said that a future light battle tank will be developed as well with the help of the industry,” The Economic Times reported. “The officer said two industry partners will be identified after technical evaluation and will develop their own variants based on Army requirements.”
The weight of the tanks will reportedly be around 25 tons, and it is an important consideration for the location they will likely deploy to.
There is also interest in light tank platforms in the United States. The U.S. Army has recently introduced the M10 Booker into service. While not exactly a light tank — General Dynamics Land Systems have preferred to use the term assault gun — the M10 does share several design aspects with a light tank-like platform, including a smaller diameter main gun and a lower weight compared to a main battle tank.
M10 Booker Light Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Like India’s light tank initiative, the Booker’s mobility and logistical footprint, particularly in rather mountainous terrain, would offer advantages over a main battle tank.
India’s FRCV program, coupled with the light tank initiative, reflects the country’s commitment to addressing contemporary security challenges.
While the specifics of Project Ranjeet are still under wraps, these efforts mark a clear move toward equipping the Indian Army with the tools necessary to navigate an evolving strategic environment.
Russian T-72 tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
