Abhay IFV Abhay ( Sanskrit : अभय , " " Fearless " " ) is an Infantry Combat Vehicle ( ICV ) being developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) . Abhay is being developed as a technology demonstrator for replacing Indian Army BMP - 2 s . At present , various systems of this vehicle are in advanced stages of development . Project . Abhay serves as a pre - technology demonstrator to develop and test technologies that will be used on a futuristic ICV ( FICV ) , which will replace the Indian Army ' s BMP - 2 vehicles . The project started in the late 1990s , and design work was completed by 2001 . However , the project faced delays due to US sanctions imposed after the Pokhran - II Nuclear tests . Abhay is currently being developed by the DRDO ’ s Ahmednagar - based Vehicles Research & Development Establishment ( VRDE ) . A mild steel prototype of the Abhay has been built , and is presently under testing for proving automotive systems . The pre - production prototype was rolled out in June 2005 . Development of the first armoured prototype is also in progress . Design . Abhay ICV has taken best of BMP and western equipment and will be designed for increased firepower . Firepower . Abhay features an all - electrical turret drive system and a 40mm high - velocity cannon capable of firing APFSDS and HE rounds . The anti - air firing range of the 40mm cannon is 4 km and 2 . 5 km for ground attack . The ICV comes loaded with a total of 210 rounds of ammunition , and its turret , housing a thermal imager using the Catherine FC , also contains a twin - launcher for the Kornet - E ATGM ( anti - tank guided missile ) . The Abhay is operated by a crew of three , and carries seven infantry soldiers . An electro - mechanical all - electric drive ( AED ) for weapons control with independent stabilisation has been developed indigenously by DRDO in association with private sector industry for the turret . The purpose of the AED is to position the 40mm cannon on to the target in azimuth and elevation and to provide twin - axis turret stabilisation against external disturbances . The AED uses brush - less drives with especially designed backlash - free elevation and traverse gearboxes coupled to the turret ring for rotation in azimuth , and to sector gears for elevation / depression of the cannon , respectively . The AED also employs vector - control technologies implemented through digital controllers and insulated gate bipolar transistor ( IGBT ) - based power amplifiers for control of the brush - less drives . It also uses fibre - optic gyros as feedback elements for the purpose of stabilisation . AED has a provision for MIL - STD - 1553B databus and RS - 422 interfaces for real - time connectivity . Mobility . Abhay is powered by a Greaves Cotton TD2 V8 550 hp diesel engine ( a power - to - weight ratio of 24 hp / tonne ) and an automatic transmission supplied by L - 3 Communications . The hydropneumatic suspension allows for increased passenger comfort . These factors will give Abhay excellent mobility and speed . Bangalore based DRDO Lab DEBEL is designing the ergonomical layout of Abhay . Protection . Abhay is fitted with NBC protection system and Laser warning detectors . Armor . Abhay is equipped with composite Armor . Two prototypes were built . The first one was with the steel armour and the second one was fitted with the composite armour . The composite armour reduces the weight by 40 percent compared to steel . Lighter ERA has been developed to be used on the Abhay .