The Indian Army is re-evaluating the lessons learned from the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, particularly the dominance of various types of UAVs on the battlefield and the corresponding threat level to armored vehicles.
As part of this exploration, Indian military forces aim to equip their BMP-2s with programmable shells for the 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon, which can be used to intercept reconnaissance or strike drones. This was reported by the Polish portal ZBiAM.
At this point, Defense Express would like to emphasize that the option of using programmable munitions to protect BMP-2s from various types of drones is at least intriguing and could complement other protective measures for the armored vehicle, such as "mangals" or grids, or electronic warfare stations.
However, this option does come with its own set of "buts," which will be elaborated upon later in this publication.
So, in this context, it is important to note that the Indian defense industry must essentially create a 30-mm programmable munition from scratch, enabling the BMP-2 to take down drones.
The specific model that will go into mass production will be determined by the results of a competitive selection process, with the primary condition being maximum localization of production for this munition.
Yet, even once this munition is developed for the BMP-2, new nuances will arise. For instance, the fire control system of this vehicle will clearly need to be "upgraded" to facilitate the firing of 30-mm programmable rounds.
Another critical question is the effective range against UAVs when using programmable munitions with the BMP-2 cannon. According to "passport" specifications, the 2A42 cannon has a firing range of up to 2000 meters against aerial targets, but this likely applies to targets the size of a helicopter, meaning the effective range against drones may be limited to about 1000 meters.
Thus, while the concept of using this idea to protect the BMP-2 from UAVs appears interesting, in practice it will require certain modifications to the vehicle and tactical ingenuity from the crews.
According to The Military Balance 2024, at the beginning of this year, the Indian Army had a total of 2400 BMP-2 units at its disposal.