Abhay (Sanskrit: अभय, "Fearless") was an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) developed under a technology-demonstrator program created in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Abhay would serve as the technology demonstrator for the replacement vehicle of the BMP-II ICVs India used at the time, now called the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle Program (FICV programme), and allowed DRDO to experience the indigenous (local) development of nearly the entire ICV and its systems.[1]
The program began in the mid-1990s. By 2003, the development of the first Mild Steel prototype was completed and the development of the first armoured prototype was in progress. By 2004, various stages of the vehicle were in the advanced stages of development. By 2005, the first prototype of the Abhay (Mild Steel) was completely integrated with indigenously made systems. By 2008, the Abhay program was officially declared successfully completed by DRDO in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report of 2007–2008.[2][3][4][1]
Allegedly, Mr. M Natarajan, at the time recently appointed Director General of DRDO, stated about the Abhay in 2004: "The Abhay is under development. We see it as the future infantry combat vehicle for the Army. It will be a replacement for the Russian made BMPs that the Army has. It should be ready in two years."[5] This was not clarified later on for unknown reasons.
^ ab"Ministry of Defence Annual Report 2007-2008" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^"Ministry of Defence Annual Report 2002-2003" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^"Ministry of Defence annual Report 2003-2004" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^"Ministry of Defence Annual Report 2004-2005" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^"Abhay". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
2024. "The Indian Abhay Infantry Fighting Vehicle". TankNutDave.com. Retrieved 14 January 2024. DRDO Techfocus on AbhayIFVAbhayIFV at GlobalSecurity...
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