On March 13, 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defense sealed a deal with Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) to procure 693 armament upgrades for the Indian Army’s BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle, transitioning it to BMP-2M. This modernization incorporates crucial enhancements such as night fighting capability, gunner’s primary sight, commander’s panoramic sight, and a fire control system (FCS) with automatic target tracking, all developed and manufactured in India.
AVNL has devised an indigenous solution to equip the existing BMP-2/2K vehicles with night fighting capabilities and an FCS, through the integration of technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Chennai. These upgrades, to be produced with equipment and subsystems sourced from local manufacturers, aim to strengthen the country’s defense manufacturing ecosystem and enhance self-reliance in this critical sector.