Indian Army Project Ranjeet: India’s new tank plan called the Future Ready Combat Vehicle, or “FRCV”, and many reports also call it Project Ranjeet is in motion now. It is meant to give the Indian Army a fresh main battle tank that is built in India and made for future war needs. The idea is to move away from old tanks and bring in a much newer machine that can stay useful for many years. The plan is tied to the country’s “Make in India” defence push and to a wider shift toward homegrown armoured power.
The Army wants the FRCV to replace the aging T-72 Ajeya fleet. Reporting has said the programme may involve about 1,770 tanks, with a total value of around ₹57,000 crore. Some reports also say the new tanks are expected to enter service by around 2030, and the fleet could stay in use for 40 to 50 years.
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Why the Army Needs it?
The old T-72 tanks have served for a long time, but the battlefield has changed a lot. New threats now include drones, anti-tank missiles, electronic warfare, and smarter surveillance tools. That is why the Army wants a tank that is more protected, more digital, and better able to move across deserts, plains, and rough ground. The goal is not just speed. It is survival, sensing, and smart fighting all in one package.
Official DRDO material already points in that direction. DRDO says the FRCV will feature an indigenous 120mm smoothbore gun, while work is also underway on 125mm guns so the Army can have more choice in armament. They also said the FRCV is part of its wider push for modern indigenous combat systems.
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How India is Building the Bigger Armoured Picture
Project Ranjeet is not happening alone. It comes alongside other Indian-made armoured projects such as the light tank Zorawar and the new Vikram VT21 armoured platform. PIB said Zorawar completed successful preliminary automotive trials in September 2024, and DRDO’s April 2026 material said Vikram VT21 is being pitched as a possible solution for the Army’s Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle need.
The FRCV plan is important because it is not only about replacing one old tank. It is about building a whole new armoured base for the next few decades. If the programme moves on the schedule described in reports, it could become one of India’s biggest indigenous defence production efforts and a major step in long-term military self-reliance.
