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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name = Abhay
|image =Abhay IFV.jpg
|caption = ''Abhay'' IFV
|origin = India
|type = [[Infantry Combat Vehicle]]

|is_artillery =
|is_vehicle = yes

|service =
|used_by =
|wars =

|designer = [[DRDO]]
|design_date =
|manufacturer = [[Ordnance Factory Medak]]
|unit_cost =
|production_date=
|number =
|variants =

|spec_label =
|weight = 23 tons (25 tons with ERA)
|length =
|part_length =
|width =
|height =
|diameter =
|crew = 3 (commander, driver, gunner)<br>7 Troops

|cartridge =
|caliber =
|barrels =
|action =
|rate =
|velocity =
|range =
|max_range =
|feed =
|sights =

|breech =
|recoil =
|carriage =
|elevation =
|traverse =

|armour = Kanchan Armour with Optional [[Explosive reactive armour|ERA]]
|primary_armament = 1 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|40 mm L/70 autocannon]] (210 rounds)
|secondary_armament = 1 × 30 mm automatic Grenade Launcher <br>7.62 mm [[PKT machine gun|PKT]] coaxial [[machine gun]] <br>2 × [[9M113 Konkurs|Konkurs-M]] or [[MILAN]] [[ATGM]]
|engine = [[Greaves Cotton]] TD2V8 diesel engine
|engine_power = 410 kW (550 hp)
|pw_ratio = 24 hp/ton
|transmission = Full automatic gearbox
|payload_capacity=
|suspension = [[Hydropneumatic suspension]]
|clearance =
|fuel_capacity=
|vehicle_range= 400 km
|speed = 35 km/h (cross country) <br>70 km/h (road)
|guidance =
|steering =
|accuracy =
|launch_platform =
|transport =
}}

'''Abhay''' ([[Sanskrit]]: [[Devanagari|अभय]], ''"Fearless"'') is an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) being developed in [[India]] by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO). Abhay is being developed as a technology demonstrator{{inconsistent}} for replacing [[Indian Army]] [[BMP-2]]s.

Development began in the 1990s and design was complete in 2001.<ref name=tribune20010805/> {{asof|2022}}, various systems of this vehicle were in advanced stages of development.<ref name=nic20051029>pp 14, [http://mod.nic.in/reports/achievements/majoractivities.doc 2004 Activity and Assessment Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029150132/http://mod.nic.in/reports/achievements/majoractivities.doc |date=29 October 2005 }} of the [[Ministry of Defence (India)]] (DOC)[https://archive.today/20131211110956/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131210/DEFREG03/312100021/India-Rejects-BMP-3-Offer-Will-Maintain-FICV-Program India Rejects BMP-3 Offer, Will Maintain FICV Program]</ref>{{update after|2021}} By 2020, Indian military announced plans to begin operational use of the Abhay ICV in 2027.<ref name=defcap20200124/>

==Project==
Abhay serves as a pre-technology demonstrator to develop and test technologies that will be used on a futuristic ICV (FICV), which will replace the Indian Army's [[BMP-2]] vehicles.<ref>[http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=925 Ministry of Defence Annual Appraisal 2003], PIB, [[Government of India]], 3 February 2004</ref> The project started in the late 1990s, and design work was completed by 2001.<ref name=tribune20010805>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010806/nation.htm#3 Army to have Infantry Combat Vehicle], UNI Report, ''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]'', 5 August 2001</ref> However, the project faced delays due to US sanctions imposed after the [[Pokhran-II]] Nuclear tests.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Projects of DRDO delayed due to imposition of sanctions | publisher = Press Information Bureau, [[Government of India]] | date = 26 August 2004 | url = http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=3532 | access-date = 2008-03-27 }}</ref>

Abhay is being developed by the DRDO's [[Ahmednagar]]-based [[Vehicles Research & Development Establishment]] (VRDE). A Mild Steel (MS) prototype of the Abhay has been built, and is being tested for proving automotive systems. The pre-production prototype was rolled out in June 2005. Development of the first armoured prototype is also in progress.

In September 2019, it's announced that the FICV will be fast tracked.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/competition_in_sight_to_supply_2600_infantry_combat_vehicles_to_indian_army.html|title = Competition in sight to supply 2,600 infantry combat vehicles to Indian army | September 2019 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2019 | Archive News year}}</ref>

In an interview emerged in January 2020, army chief [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]] told that induction of FICV is scheduled for 2026–27.<ref name=defcap20200124>{{cite news |title=Interview: India plans future infantry combat vehicle induction in 2027, says Gen. Naravane |url=https://defence.capital/2020/01/22/interview-india-plans-future-infantry-combat-vehicle-induction-in-2027-says-gen-naravane/ |newspaper=Defence Capital |date=2020-01-24 |access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite interview |interviewer=NC Bipindra|title=Indian army equipping for future two-front and new-age wars|url=https://defencecapitalhome.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/dcjan2020issuefinalnew.pdf|publisher=Defence Capital|date=2020-01-24 |work=Defence Capital|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>

==Design==

===Firepower===
Abhay features an all-electrical turret drive system and a [[Bofors 40mm L/70|40 mm high-velocity cannon]] capable of firing [[APFSDS]] and [[High explosive]] rounds.<ref>[http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/2009/aug09.pdf article from the journal TechFocus ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824164402/http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/2009/aug09.pdf |date=24 August 2009 }} of the DRDO</ref> The 40MM [[APFSDS]] round has an effective penetration of 100 mm [[Rolled homogeneous armour|RHA]] at 1 km.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Armament System for ICV- ABHAY {{!}} Defence Research and Development Organisation – DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/armament-system-icv-abhay|access-date=2021-10-21|website=drdo.gov.in}}</ref>

The anti-air firing range of the 40 mm cannon is 4 km and 2.5 km for ground attack. The ICV comes loaded with a total of 210 rounds of ammunition, and its turret, housing a thermal imager using the Catherine FC, also contains a twin-launcher for the [[Kornet-E]] ATGM (anti-tank guided missile). The Abhay is operated by a crew of three, and carries seven infantry soldiers.

'''FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM'''

An electro-mechanical all-electric drive (AED) for weapons control with independent stabilisation has been developed indigenously by DRDO in association with private sector industry for the turret. The purpose of the AED is to position the 40 mm cannon on to the target in azimuth and elevation and to provide twin-axis turret stabilisation against external disturbances.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=All Electric Type Weapon Control System for ICV {{!}} Defence Research and Development Organisation – DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/all-electric-type-weapon-control-system-icv|access-date=2021-10-18|website=drdo.gov.in}}</ref>

The AED uses brush-less drives with especially designed backlash-free elevation and traverse gearboxes coupled to the turret ring for rotation in azimuth, and to sector gears for elevation/depression of the cannon, respectively. The AED also employs vector-control technologies implemented through digital controllers and insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)-based power amplifiers for control of the brush-less drives. It also uses fibre-optic gyros as feedback elements for the purpose of stabilisation. AED has a provision for MIL-STD-1553B databus and RS-422 interfaces for real-time connectivity.<ref name=":0" />

===Mobility===
Abhay is powered by a Greaves Cotton TD2 V8 410 kW (550 hp) diesel engine (a power-to-weight ratio of 24 hp/tonne) and an automatic gearbox supplied by L-3 Communications. The hydro-pneumatic suspension allows for increased passenger comfort. These factors will give Abhay excellent mobility and speed.

The DRDO's [[Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory]] (DEBEL) based in [[Bengaluru]] is designing the ergonomical layout of Abhay.<ref>[http://frontierindia.net/drdos-life-saving-products-save-foreign-exchange-too DRDO's Life saving products save foreign exchange too] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007082156/http://frontierindia.net/drdos-life-saving-products-save-foreign-exchange-too |date=7 October 2008 }}, [[FIDSNS]], 30 August 2007</ref>

===Protection===

Abhay is fitted with NBC protection system and Advanced Laser Warning system, which alerts the crew and turns the turret towards the direction of the laser beam.

Integrated Fire Suppression System
(IFSS) has been developed to suppress fire in engine, ammunition and crew compartment.

===Armour===
Abhay is equipped with composite armour. Two prototypes were built. The first one was with the steel armour and the second one was fitted with the composite armour. The composite armour reduces the weight by 40% compared to steel. Lighter ERA has been developed to be used on the Abhay.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090824164402/http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/2009/aug09.pdf DRDO Techfocus on Abhay IFV]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/abhay.htm Abhay IFV] at GlobalSecurity.org
{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abhay Ifv}}
[[Category:Infantry fighting vehicles]]
[[Category:Infantry fighting vehicles of India]]
[[Category:Military vehicles of India]]
[[Category:Post–Cold War military equipment of India]]

Abhay IFV - Revision history

Bot at 00:06, 6 July 2022