Defence PSU scouting for small spare to indigenise Soviet-era infantry vehicle

Nagpur: A single component no more than the size of a two-wheeler battery stands in the way of fully indigenising Soviet-era designed infantry vehicle — Boyoveya Mashina Pekhoty-2, popularly known as the BMP-2, inducted in the Indian Army in 1980s. Chennai-based Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), the defence PSU made out of erstwhile ordnance factories, is looking for a domestic manufacturer for GPK-59 gyrocompass, a high-precision instrument that keeps the BMP going in the right direction even when it passes through water.AVNL, also make battle tanks at its flagship unit, the Heavy Vehicle Factory at Chennai. AVNL teams have been moving around the country taking part in exhibitions for the last three-four years looking for a domestic vendor for the GPK-59 along with other spares of the T-72 and T-90 tanks as well. The T-72 and T-90 tanks need a handful of items through domestic sources to achieve full indigenisation, said sources.The products were put on display at the Advantage Vidarbha Khasdar Audyogik Mahotsav. Components like GPK-59 can be imported; but given the govt's stress on Atma Nirbhar Bharat, AVNL is trying hard to find an Indian vendor who can make it, said officials at the stall.AVNL had tied up with a private vendor earlier but faced production and technical issues, leading it to look for others for an assured supply. There need to be at least three to four vendors. The most challenging part is the gimbal, a component in the GPK-59 that is needed for maintaining stability in water. Spares that needed to be indigenised for the T-72 and the T-90 tanks were also put on display. The T-72 tanks were indigenised up to 96%, and the T-90 is 92%. In total, AVNL needs around seven spares that would complete the indigenisation process for two tanks, said sources. The items have been also put up in Srijan portal through which the defences services tie-up with private vendor, sources said.