Russia Offers India Upgraded BMP-3 to Accelerate Mechanized Forces Modernization

As India looks to modernize its mechanized forces and replace its aging BMP-1 and BMP-2 vehicles, Russia has offered an upgraded version of the BMP-3 featuring enhanced protection “based on combat experience.”

The report comes from Indian Defence News.

According to the publication, Russia’s proposal to India and several other Asian countries includes a modernization package aimed at improving protection, mobility, and firepower.

The offer is intended to fill existing capability gaps in India’s mechanized infantry, as the Indian Army seeks a next-generation platform to replace its outdated BMP-2 fleet.

The proposed BMP-3 variant would feature modular reactive armor kits, anti-cumulative grilles, and self-sealing fuel tanks.

The report notes that these upgrades significantly improve resistance to anti-tank guided missiles, artillery fragments, and drone strikes.

However, BMP-3s equipped with Kaktus armor were only occasionally spotted on the battlefield in spring 2024. After several were destroyed near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, such vehicles have not been observed since.

The new package reportedly includes an advanced fire control and targeting system featuring a multispectral day-night sight and an automated fire control system.

It will also include a more powerful 600-horsepower engine, replacing the current 500-hp model, along with upgraded transmission and suspension components.

India’s modernization of its mechanized infantry is proceeding along two tracks: upgrading existing BMP-2s to the BMP-2M standard, and developing the new FICV infantry fighting vehicle.

In March 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defense approved the upgrade of 693 BMP-2s to the BMP-2M level. The upgrade includes night sights, an improved fire control system, and domestically produced electro-optical devices.

The parallel FICV project, a long-running effort to develop a new generation of infantry fighting vehicles, remains a strategic priority. The FICV is designed to eventually replace the BMP family with a modular, network-centric, AI-integrated platform adapted to Indian operational conditions.

As the media concludes, while the upgraded BMP-3 offers a faster path to improved combat capability, it could conflict with India’s long-term goal of defense self-reliance. Despite delays, the FICV remains a key symbol of national innovation and autonomy in armored vehicle production.