The author:Tungsten Directory
Production of the BMP-2, known as the Sarath (Chariot of Victory) indian
mech inf. service, continues at 100 per year, with over 1,000 in active
service with the Indian Army.In their search for a suitable armored
personnel carrier, the Army HQ carried out extensive trials of a number
of vehicles from different countries and selected Infantry Combat
Vehicles (ICV) BMP I from the Soviet Union. Later, an improved version
of the vehicle -- ICV-BMP II -- was decided to be manufactured
indigenously and capacity for indigenous manufacture of improved ICV-BMP
II was created in three OFs. The Ministry imported in all 745 ICVs-BMP I
over a period of six years during 1976 to 1982 at a total cost of Rs
171.11 crore. As the ICVs have a useful life of 10 to 15 years,
the
imported vehicles would outlive their useful life during 1991 to
1997.BMP stands for Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota. On 20 February 2002,
the Simulator Development Division (SDD), Secunderabad launched the
first indigenously-developed Aiming Training Simulator for the personnel
who man the BMP-II ICV.The simulator is designed & developed to
impart comprehensive training in the areas of acquisition and engagement
of all kinds of targets including aerial ones to improve their
responses and aiming skills. The simulator is expected to usher in an
era of safe, realistic and cost effective training. SDD is a premier
Category 'A' establishment of the Indian Army, for in-house development
of training simulators. SDD has a number of other simulators to its
credit which are already in service. The small yet significant
organisation continues to grow and excel in the field of simulation and
modelling towards evolution of world class training simulators for the
Indian Army.
The projects for indigenous production of ICV-BMP I,
its engines and opto-electrical devices imported at a cost ofRs 16.50
crore, were sanctioned in June 1984. While the planning work was in
progress, the Army decided on indigenous production of its improved
version, i.e. ICV-BMP II and its technology was obtained at a cost of Rs
57.17 crore under an agreement of February 1985. However, the Ministry
revised the earlier sanctions for setting up of composite facility for
indigenous production of improved version i.e ICV-BMP II only in
February-August 1987. According to the DPR the production was to
commence in 1987-88 and the sanctioned capacity was to be achieved by
1992-93.
The target for 1989-90 could not be achieved due to
non-receipt of complete knockeddown (CKD) kits in time and large number
of deficiencies noticed in CKDs received from the collaborators. The
production plan in 1990-91 was reduced in April 1990 to 231 and 1991-92
onwards to 150 by Army due to budgetary constraints. The production
targets for 1991-92 was restricted to 120 vehicles and 100 vehicles from
1992-93 onwards. Ministry intimated (August 1992) that the reduction in
requirement of vehicle was due to high cost and fund constraints. They
added that the cost of indigenous equipment became high. However,
Ministry also intimated that (March 1993) the indigenous cost of vehicle
II is Rs.1.12 crores in 1991-92 when the import cost of Vehicle II 5
years back was 3.44 lakhs Roubles which on coversion works out to
Rs.1.06 crores as in March 1992.
The order initially placed by
Army in July 1986 was for 657 Vehicle II and 143 variants of Vehicle II
termed as Vehicle II-K. Later on Army amended the order for Vehicle II
from 657 to 750 against which all 750 Vehicles II were supplied upto
1991-92.
Life of tracked vehicles including BMPs prevalent at the time of induction of BMP-I in 1977 was 15 years, with one mid-life overhaul. The Ministry changed the overhaul policy in January 1987 while increasing the life of the vehicle to 32 years, providing for two overhauls at 12 and 22 years from the date of the induction, or 10,000 kms run, whichever was earlier. The Army changed the overhaul philosphy yet again in 1993 under which the periodicity of overhauls were to be worked out with reference to kilometerage instead of vintage, as it was considered that the need for repairs arose more through usage than vintage. The engines common to both BMP-I and II were due for overhaul after 4800 kms. The Ministry, accepting in principle this overhaul philosophy, sanctioned in March 1994 creation of facilities for overhaul of 110 BMP-I vehicles and 210 engines per annum, by augmenting the existing facilities at Army Base Workshop and spares support by Central Armoured Fighting Vehicle Depot.
The overhaul facility was expected to be fully established by mid 2000. First overhaul of 686 BMP-I vehicles was expected to be completed by 2006 and BMP-II would be taken up for overhaul only from 2007. This is critical in the context of Army’s existing plan to equip all Mechanised Infantry Battalions with BMP-II vehicles by a target date by which time all imported BMP-II vehicles would have completed more than 16 years. Ministry stated in December 1999 that 56 vehicles have been overhauled and 114 of 1981 vintage have become due for overhaul.
As the Russian supplier discontinued manufacture of BMP-I, the Project Controller mooted a proposal in June 1995 to buy life time spares for the maintenance and overhaul of the vehicles.
The proposed purchase of the spares was assessed for life cycle concept of 32 years with two overhauls and three medium repairs of 742 BMP-I vehicles. The Ministry approved the proposal for life time purchase of 185 items of spares at an estimated cost of Rs 27.09 crore in July 1998 duly restricting it to half life time in respect of 133 items in view of their outdated technology and impending replacement. On a review in February 1999, 30 items pertaining to image converter based systems were deleted since these are not to be overhauled in view of passivisation of active systems after 10th plan. Army HQ placed indents for 155 items of spares, as of December 1999.
Analysis of 133 items under procurement after restricting it to half life time buy, disclosed that it included 114 items for first overhaul and maintenance till replacement of outdated gunner/driver night vision devices. Since the mechanised Infantry Battalions would be constituted with BMP-II by early 10th plan, import of the spares for overhaul of these items was not justified at the fag end of their use by mechanised infantry. Cost of spares for these 114 items was estimated at Rs 15.62 crore and included in the sanctioned amount of Rs 27.09 crore. Further, provisioning of another 36 items of spares was for two overhauls.
The Ministry stated in December 1999 that since BMP-I vehicles was out of production in the country of origin, requirment of life time buy had been projected taking due care not to overstock and at the same time to cater for providing engineer support to maintain BMP-I till 2019. The Ministry’s contention was not tenable as first overhaul of BMP-I would stand completed by 2006 and thereafter overhaul of BMP-II vehicles would commence, there would be no spare capacity in the Army Base Workshop to carry out the second overhaul of any BMP-I vehicle.
Life of tracked vehicles including BMPs prevalent at the time of induction of BMP-I in 1977 was 15 years, with one mid-life overhaul. The Ministry changed the overhaul policy in January 1987 while increasing the life of the vehicle to 32 years, providing for two overhauls at 12 and 22 years from the date of the induction, or 10,000 kms run, whichever was earlier. The Army changed the overhaul philosphy yet again in 1993 under which the periodicity of overhauls were to be worked out with reference to kilometerage instead of vintage, as it was considered that the need for repairs arose more through usage than vintage. The engines common to both BMP-I and II were due for overhaul after 4800 kms. The Ministry, accepting in principle this overhaul philosophy, sanctioned in March 1994 creation of facilities for overhaul of 110 BMP-I vehicles and 210 engines per annum, by augmenting the existing facilities at Army Base Workshop and spares support by Central Armoured Fighting Vehicle Depot.
The overhaul facility was expected to be fully established by mid 2000. First overhaul of 686 BMP-I vehicles was expected to be completed by 2006 and BMP-II would be taken up for overhaul only from 2007. This is critical in the context of Army’s existing plan to equip all Mechanised Infantry Battalions with BMP-II vehicles by a target date by which time all imported BMP-II vehicles would have completed more than 16 years. Ministry stated in December 1999 that 56 vehicles have been overhauled and 114 of 1981 vintage have become due for overhaul.
As the Russian supplier discontinued manufacture of BMP-I, the Project Controller mooted a proposal in June 1995 to buy life time spares for the maintenance and overhaul of the vehicles.
The proposed purchase of the spares was assessed for life cycle concept of 32 years with two overhauls and three medium repairs of 742 BMP-I vehicles. The Ministry approved the proposal for life time purchase of 185 items of spares at an estimated cost of Rs 27.09 crore in July 1998 duly restricting it to half life time in respect of 133 items in view of their outdated technology and impending replacement. On a review in February 1999, 30 items pertaining to image converter based systems were deleted since these are not to be overhauled in view of passivisation of active systems after 10th plan. Army HQ placed indents for 155 items of spares, as of December 1999.
Analysis of 133 items under procurement after restricting it to half life time buy, disclosed that it included 114 items for first overhaul and maintenance till replacement of outdated gunner/driver night vision devices. Since the mechanised Infantry Battalions would be constituted with BMP-II by early 10th plan, import of the spares for overhaul of these items was not justified at the fag end of their use by mechanised infantry. Cost of spares for these 114 items was estimated at Rs 15.62 crore and included in the sanctioned amount of Rs 27.09 crore. Further, provisioning of another 36 items of spares was for two overhauls.
The Ministry stated in December 1999 that since BMP-I vehicles was out of production in the country of origin, requirment of life time buy had been projected taking due care not to overstock and at the same time to cater for providing engineer support to maintain BMP-I till 2019. The Ministry’s contention was not tenable as first overhaul of BMP-I would stand completed by 2006 and thereafter overhaul of BMP-II vehicles would commence, there would be no spare capacity in the Army Base Workshop to carry out the second overhaul of any BMP-I vehicle.
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