India's Armoured Advance: Stryker ICVs and Domestic Prowess to Boost Combat Mobility

The Indian Army is gearing up to significantly enhance its armoured capabilities, charting a dual-pronged approach to acquire next-generation Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs).

The plan involves a unique collaboration with the United States to co-develop and produce Stryker ICVs tailored for Indian needs, along with concurrent development of indigenous ICVs led by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

American Muscle, Indian Touch: The Stryker ICV Collaboration​

In a move to integrate cutting-edge American technology into its armoured fleet, the Indian Army is set to acquire a limited number of Stryker ICVs, with an initial order of around 100 vehicles and the potential for up to 300 in the future. These vehicles will be specifically adapted to Indian requirements, potentially featuring a more powerful engine to tackle the diverse terrains encountered in Indian operations.

A key highlight of this collaboration is the Transfer of Technology (ToT) to India. This means that Indian private companies will eventually be able to manufacture these Stryker ICVs domestically, boosting India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Homegrown Innovation: DRDO's Indigenous ICVs​

In tandem with the US collaboration, the Indian Army is also investing in indigenous capabilities. DRDO, in partnership with leading Indian automotive manufacturers Tata and Mahindra, is spearheading the development of homegrown ICVs. These domestically produced vehicles will not only strengthen India's defence industrial base but also reduce dependence on imports.

The Road Ahead: A Stronger, More Mobile Armoured Force​

The Indian Army's planned induction of both co-developed Stryker ICVs and domestically designed alternatives represents a comprehensive strategy to modernize its armoured fighting vehicle fleet. By embracing both international collaboration and homegrown innovation, the Army is not only equipping itself with advanced capabilities but also fostering a thriving domestic defence industry.

This move signifies a significant step forward for India's military modernization efforts, ensuring that its armed forces are well-equipped to face the evolving challenges of the 21st century. As these new ICVs enter service, they promise to enhance the Indian Army's operational flexibility, mobility, and overall combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield.

 

[Pink Panther]

Tata and Mahindra’s ICV’s are used only for defense shows currently, this is a bad trend, first of all we need to install cope cages to protect them from drones.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

If desired ToT is granted ,any ICV must be acquired in 1000s not in 100s .

 

[NSR]

Stryker ICVs are multi-faceted fighting vehicles and great in battlefield especially new and evolving drone warfare.
But it comes with low power engine and Indian MoD asked for upgradation of engine to meet its mountain terrains requirements.
Remember that USA Strykers are far more expensive than the Indian made local ICVs.

Indian Army will fall in love with them as they have a lot of gizmos in it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Being Imported maal, I will bet my rupees 100, that IA will put its weight behind stryker, when it will be time for acquisition.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Stryker might be the best but my opinion is unless we back our own platforms we will never be atmanirbhar. We should have stood behind indigenous efforts .

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Import loving army going for another imported maal despite having multiple indigenous options. We criticise drdo so much.Just imagine here they have a near perfect product, even better than stryker in most aspects, can be upgraded with various features that army want ,made with so much passion and love along with private players, still these corrupted army leaders going for an imported more costly american trash that americans will retire at the end of the decade. I hope this never succeeds. What a waste of money in an area where drdo has given an extraordinary product. Dont they learn from others? Ukraine cant keep up with Russians because Russians are churning out so much cheap, homegrown weapons than west cant supply that much to ukraine. When these orders are placed to an indian vendor that infrastructure, setup will help us in times of war.

 

[Shanker]

The Army must learn to support indigenous products all the way. They must also learn to tolerate the difficulties inherently associated with any development process. I hope that MOD will get the Army to toe the line instead of the other way around.

 

[beencensured]

Stryker might be the best but my opinion is unless we back our own platforms we will never be atmanirbhar. We should have stood behind indigenous efforts .

Stryker is not the best as it is underpowered and expensive.

 

[kumar]

Import loving army going for another imported maal despite having multiple indigenous options. We criticise drdo so much.Just imagine here they have a near perfect product, even better than stryker in most aspects, can be upgraded with various features that army want ,made with so much passion and love along with private players, still these corrupted army leaders going for an imported more costly american trash that americans will retire at the end of the decade. I hope this never succeeds. What a waste of money in an area where drdo has given an extraordinary product. Dont they learn from others? Ukraine cant keep up with Russians because Russians are churning out so much cheap, homegrown weapons than west cant supply that much to ukraine. When these orders are placed to an indian vendor that infrastructure, setup will help us in times of war.

Very well summarized. This is the actual rot in our system which is not allowing land warfare part of our defence industry to indegenize. Wish we had somebody like parikkar to clean up this mess.

 

[Kira]

But if alternatives already exist in some capacity with multiple prototypes already being produced,I don't think there is any need for Stryker IFV at all since it too will be domestically produced which will end up eating away from the share of any domestic IFV.
There is absolutely no doubt about capability and reliability of the Stryker,but it's not 2020 anymore,where IA desperately needed to step upto the PLA and wanted to have very fast integration of any hardware within its ranks.
At the political front,this would be a good or a neutral type of acquisition for the country,but for the US,this may be potentially huge give the size of market that Indian armoured forces represents and gives the US one foot in the door at the expense of the Russians.

 

[Pink Panther]

Import loving army going for another imported maal despite having multiple indigenous options. We criticise drdo so much.Just imagine here they have a near perfect product, even better than stryker in most aspects, can be upgraded with various features that army want ,made with so much passion and love along with private players, still these corrupted army leaders going for an imported more costly american trash that americans will retire at the end of the decade. I hope this never succeeds. What a waste of money in an area where drdo has given an extraordinary product. Dont they learn from others? Ukraine cant keep up with Russians because Russians are churning out so much cheap, homegrown weapons than west cant supply that much to ukraine. When these orders are placed to an indian vendor that infrastructure, setup will help us in times of war.

We already have infrastructure, but IA only wanted to show those products in Defense Expo’s and doesn’t want to induct, Airforce first went for Rafale, now army want’s to follow.