Lieutenant General Karanbir Singh Brar, the General Officer Commanding of the Southern Command, conducted a critical visit to Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd. (AVNL) aimed at bolstering the production capabilities of the state-owned enterprise. This visit underscores India’s enhanced commitment to strengthening its defense infrastructure in response to dynamic regional threats.
During his time at AVNL, Lt Gen Brar engaged in detailed discussions with company officials, emphasizing the need to accelerate delivery timelines and foster greater indigenization in production processes. His visit follows the successful execution of Operation Sindoor in April 2025, a counter-terrorism mission in Pahalgam that highlighted India’s growing capabilities in deploying indigenous technologies such as drones and sophisticated air defense systems to effectively neutralize threats.
Additionally, Lt Gen Brar inspected a variety of armored vehicles and ammunition that are currently under development. The Indian Army is actively pursuing the modernization of its land systems, with significant initiatives like the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) and Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV). These programs are designed to replace obsolete BMP-2 platforms and include plans for producing 1,750 next-generation vehicles tailored for future combat scenarios.
AVNL, which was established in 2021 after the restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board, is pivotal to India’s initiative for defense self-reliance. The organization is firmly moving towards complete indigenization, achieving recent milestones such as upgrades to the T-90 MK-II tank and the domestic development of a powerful 1,400 horsepower engine for the Arjun main battle tank.
A report by the RAND Corporation highlighted that India allocated 6.9% of its GDP to defense in 2023, reflecting the urgency and scale of its military transformation efforts. The government’s push for the Make in India initiative in the defense sector is anticipated to enhance military readiness while positioning the country as a global leader in indigenous defense manufacturing.
