The RFI meant to be accessed by all global armaments majors and issued on 10 June states that the army is seeking to enlarge its ‘armoured combat vehicle’ – light battle tanks – inventory.
“The Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) is planned to be executed in three stages…(a) Design, (b) Prototype Development Stage and (c)Production stage,” the RFI by <g data-gr-id="31">directorate</g> general of mechanised infantry stated.
The design of the Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) will indicate how the global major manufacturers, who constantly research and develop futuristic vehicles by creating scenarios that can develop over time in the medium and long term, view the future wars which can be fought in the sub-continent.
When the army receives these design plans they will be able to gauge how the global knowledge base of researchers are viewing the future nature of warfare.
The army had its own ‘Cold Start’ strategy that appears to have been pushed to the backburner by the news of Pakistan developing tactical, battlefield nuclear weapons.
With this request for information <g data-gr-id="38">(RFI)</g> the army is looking at a period of 15 years in terms of design, development and <g data-gr-id="43">productionisation</g>. Another 35 years will be the platforms deployed life with the service.
Deployment of light tanks in various forms, be it tracked or wheeled will be required in case of a <g data-gr-id="40">full scale</g> war, even if for <g data-gr-id="39">short</g> duration.
But most of the current punditry states that Indo-Pakistan war of the future cannot be like ‘third generation’ war that is, a conventional war with fast movement of armoured vehicles where they play a key role as witnessed since the World War II.
But the experts say that a future sub-continental will be ‘fourth generation’ warfare where the action
will be below the threshold of a <g data-gr-id="49">full scale</g> war, in other words, sub-conventional war where asymmetric power will be lead by special forces including ‘irregulars.’
Yet, the army has to remain prepared for <g data-gr-id="33">full</g> spectrum of operations through the ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ generations of warfare.
<g data-gr-id="36">High level</g> mechanisation ensures that the army will be capable of short, <g data-gr-id="35">high pitched</g> warfare that would obviate abrupt stoppages before achieving the objective due to international peace initiatives.