India's Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) to Feature Indigenous 120mm Smoothbore Gun Developed by ARDE

In a significant advancement for India's armored capabilities, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) is developing a new 120mm smoothbore gun for the highly anticipated Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).

This move marks a departure from the 120mm rifled gun currently employed in the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) and aligns India with the global trend towards smoothbore technology in modern tank design.

The FRCV program, envisioned as a successor to the aging T-72 fleet, aims to introduce a cutting-edge armored platform to meet the Indian Army's future combat requirements.

By opting for a smoothbore cannon, known for its superior performance in firing fin-stabilized projectiles with high velocity and accuracy, India is demonstrating its commitment to equipping its armed forces with next-generation technology.

While the Arjun MBT's rifled gun offers advantages in long-range accuracy with traditional munitions, it is generally considered less effective for modern kinetic energy-based armor-piercing rounds. Smoothbore cannons, on the other hand, excel in delivering these high-energy rounds, providing a crucial edge in contemporary battlefield scenarios.

This shift to smoothbore technology reflects India's ambition to stay competitive in the global arms race. The FRCV, equipped with the ARDE-developed 120mm smoothbore gun, is expected to be a highly capable armored fighting vehicle, incorporating cutting-edge advancements in mobility, protection, and firepower.

The new gun is likely to be integrated with advanced fire control systems, thermal imagers, and sophisticated targeting aids, ensuring the FRCV can engage targets with pinpoint accuracy even in challenging conditions.

Though the development of this indigenous 120mm smoothbore gun presents challenges, ARDE's extensive experience in large-caliber weaponry development positions them well for success. This initiative is part of a broader push by India to modernize its defense forces and achieve self-reliance in defense production.

The FRCV program goes beyond simply replacing the T-72 tanks. It envisions a versatile platform adaptable for various roles, including infantry fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft systems, and other specialized functions, further highlighting the advantages of a smoothbore main gun.

 

[Laughing Buddha]

Why not 125mm?

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

Should have gone for 130mm like Pather and Abram variants under development

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

this is something long overdue. Brings us in line with other militaries.

 

[Anant]

Why not 125mm?

125mm is the Russian standard. The older Indian standard was 120mm, the same as the West. Moreover, even the Arjun has a 120mm main gun.

 

[Sridhar]

Why not 125mm?

120 MM is more common and choice of ammunition are plenty for this caliber. Which means ammunition availability will be better if in case of emergency import.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Why not 125mm?

The new tanks could be supplied with cockerill modular gun turret using nato round. Also 120mm is ok if using only sabot round and missiles as armament. No need of heat round.heat round will be from lahat missile fired from 120 mm. So it's a tech convergent choice.

 

[Vf Feb]

Better take 120mm gun from Kalyani or Tata ..why is govt organisation working on gun thts already developed by indian pvt company .
govt shld be integrator for tanks

 

[Kira]

Rifled tank guns are also little harder to construct and costlier to acquire,plus they undergo higher wear and year due to the rifling grooves that erode over time.They earlier had advantage of providing higher accuracy to older HEAT rounds,but due to advent of sophisticated composite tank armour and need for better penetration offered by modern APFSDS rounds,it's better to return to the good old smoothbore cannon.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Sure, why not when the entire world is moving on to 125mm or bigger.

 

[Ajath Shri]

ARDE planning to design a new smooth bore gun is good news. Hope the recoil is also low and a seperate compartment needs to be created for storing the Tank rounds to ensure crews safety.