India, which has border disputes with Pakistan and China, continues its arms procurement processes in different areas.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has approved 156 additional procurement package for the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle produced under license in the country and serving as “Sarath” in the inventory. The total cost of the vehicles to be produced under the state-owned subsidiary of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was announced as 148 million USD. BMP-2 Saraths will be produced on manufacturing lines installed in Ordnance Factory Project Medak (OFPM) Facilities.
Producing more than 2,500 BMP-2s and BMP-2Ks since its foundation in 1987, OFPM will complete the delivery of 156 vehicles within 24 months. Platforms weighing 14.3 tons are operated by a crew of three. The BMP-2 Sarath, which can carry seven fully equipped personnel to the battlefield, is equipped with a 30mm 2A42 dual feed main gun, as well as a 7.62mm machine gun and 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles. Platforms with amphibious structure can reach 600 km operational range.
