DRDO’s Vikram VT-21 Wheeled ICV Meets Key Trial Requirements, Army Tests Ahead

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has reported a major step forward in its Vikram VT-21 programme, saying the wheeled version of the next-generation infantry combat vehicle (ICV) has met operational requirements during development trials.

A senior DRDO official said the wheeled platform had undergone extensive testing and delivered encouraging results. In those trials, the vehicle demonstrated mobility, trench-crossing ability and amphibious performance with its turret installed. The tracked version is being tested alongside it.

The vehicles were developed by the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), a DRDO laboratory in Ahilyanagar, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Bharat Forge Limited, with support from several micro, small and medium enterprises. The prototypes were unveiled on 25 April 2026.

DRDO is aiming to see the platforms inducted by 2029, though that will depend on successful testing and acceptance by the Indian Army. The Army will now carry out additional user trials in deserts, plains and high-altitude areas. These evaluations will focus on mobility, weapons systems, firing performance and behaviour under different operational conditions. The findings will be used to make any required changes before the vehicles move closer to induction.

The programme is intended to replace the Army’s ageing fleet of Russian-origin BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, which have served as the backbone of mechanised infantry since the 1980s. The wheeled variant is designed to provide better road mobility and faster movement, while the tracked version is intended to perform better in difficult off-road conditions. Both are meant to carry infantry safely and support them in combat.

Among the key features of the Vikram VT-21 is an indigenously developed 30 mm unmanned turret, which allows operators to remain inside the protected hull. The platform also includes a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and the ability to fire anti-tank guided missiles. The vehicles are fitted with modular armour said to offer STANAG Level 4 and 5 protection against ballistic and blast threats. They also have amphibious capability supported by hydrojets, along with a high power-to-weight ratio delivered by a high-output diesel engine and automatic transmission. Indigenous content at present stands at about 65 per cent, with plans to raise it to 90 per cent.

A senior mechanised infantry officer said modern combat vehicles such as Germany’s Puma, Sweden’s CV90 family, the US Bradley and South Korea’s K21 now focus on integrating protection, firepower, surveillance and communications rather than relying only on armour and weapons. The Vikram VT-21, he said, is meant to satisfy similar requirements for more complex and hybrid warfare environments.

The programme follows the Development cum Production Partner (DCPP) model, which combines DRDO’s design and research expertise with private industry’s manufacturing strengths. If inducted successfully, the system would support domestic armoured-vehicle production, improve quality and spare-part support at scale, and reduce dependence on imported technologies. Both variants have already cleared the Ministry of Defence’s Technical Evaluation Committee for the wheeled armoured fighting vehicle and Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programmes.

Army trials across varied terrain will now be crucial in determining whether the Vikram VT-21 can meet the operational demands of India’s diverse environment.