India Validates Crewless 30mm Turret for FICV, Boosting Firepower for Future Infantry Ops across Diverse Terrains

India has taken a significant step forward in modernising its ground forces with the successful firing trials of a new, crewless 30mm weapon turret intended for the nation's future infantry combat vehicles.

This development is part of the Indian Army's Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme, which aims to replace the currently serving, older BMP-2 vehicles.

The FICV is being designed as a next-generation platform capable of operating effectively across India's varied landscapes, including challenging high-altitude areas like Ladakh and the arid deserts of Rajasthan.

The newly tested crewless turret is expected to provide enhanced combat power, better situational awareness for troops, and improved vehicle survivability, crucially reducing risks to soldiers.

A key innovation of this turret is its remote operation capability. Soldiers can control the turret and its weapons from within the protected main body of the FICV or potentially from a distant command post.

This design significantly lowers the crew's exposure to direct enemy fire, a critical advantage in contemporary warfare scenarios where threats from advanced anti-armour weapons and unmanned aerial systems (drones) are increasingly common.

The validation trials, which took place at a military range within India, rigorously tested the turret's performance against both stationary and moving targets in simulated combat conditions. During these tests, the 30mm cannon demonstrated high levels of accuracy and operational reliability.

Furthermore, the integrated launcher for Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) proved effective, successfully engaging targets at extended ranges. These results confirm the turret's ability to handle multiple types of combat roles.

The FICV programme itself is a major undertaking within India's defence sector, with an estimated value exceeding $10 billion, and forms a key part of the government's "Make in India" and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiatives promoting indigenous defence production.

While the overall FICV project has faced procedural delays and competition among various defence firms in the past, the successful trial of this advanced turret marks an important milestone.

It is understood that the turret's development likely involves significant contributions from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reflecting the country's increasing proficiency in unmanned systems and sophisticated fire control technologies.

Based on available information, the turret system integrates several advanced features:

• 30mm Main Gun: Designed for precision engagement against light armoured vehicles, enemy troop formations, and low-flying aerial threats.
• ATGM Launcher: Allows the FICV to launch Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, enabling it to defeat heavily armoured vehicles like main battle tanks from significant distances.
• Commander’s Panoramic Sight: Provides a 360-degree view around the vehicle, enhancing situational awareness and allowing operators to quickly detect and track potential threats.
• Gunner Sight: Features advanced optics and targeting systems integrated with fire control computers to ensure high accuracy when engaging targets.

The successful validation of this crewless turret system moves the Indian Army closer to equipping its infantry units with a state-of-the-art, domestically developed combat vehicle, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness and safety of its soldiers for future missions.

 

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[Sandeep]

This is a crucial and important project that will lay the foundation of our future armoured vehicles as well. We just need to make sure that we 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture the product with Indian raw materials.

The only issue is that they should have developed a IFV which has an advantage over your enemy. We should have developed a more powerful 40mm main cannon gun. We also need to install a medium or large remote machine gun, automatic grenade launcher, 4 ATGM, loiter/kamikaze and surveillance drone, anti drone system, active protection system, NERA, add on armour etc.

 

[Shanker]

This is a crucial and important project that will lay the foundation of our future armoured vehicles as well. We just need to make sure that we 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture the product with Indian raw materials.

The only issue is that they should have developed a IFV which has an advantage over your enemy. We should have developed a more powerful 40mm main cannon gun. We also need to install a medium or large remote machine gun, automatic grenade launcher, 4 ATGM, loiter/kamikaze and surveillance drone, anti drone system, active protection system, NERA, add on armour etc.

Hey,
Are you talking about the next version? That's a decade away man!🙂

 

[Sandeep]

Hey,
Are you talking about the next version? That's a decade away man!🙂

No I'm talking about the current IFV. All of the other guns, grenade launcher, missiles, armour, drones, armour etc will be used on this IFV but I just think they should have developed a 40mm main cannon gun because it will give us a better advantage and more firepower than a standard 30mm gun which your enemy will have as well. You need to have an advantage to win.

 

[Enforcer]

I bet the gun is still the Russian. If it is russian 30mm auto cannon then we are screwed since its not very accurate. Its the same cannon from late 80's design and russia hasn't really upgraded it.