The first set of indigenously developed Next Generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) was inducted into the Corps of Engineers of Indian Army in a solemn function attended by Gen MM Naravane, the Chief of Indian Army Staff at Pune. The system has been designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak & Bharat Electronics Limited, Pune. Despite the various restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic since the last one year, supply of the vehicle to Indian Army has been on schedule.
The Next Generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle is capable of carrying out reconnaissance of water obstacles and boggy patches for execution of engineer tasks with capabilities to carry out reconnaissance and provide real time update to force commanders. The system will enhance existing engineer reconnaissance capabilities of Indian Army and would be a major game changer in support of mechanised operations in future conflicts. the AERVs will give a boost to operations especially on the western front.
The design of the Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) is based on the BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 2) amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. 700 BMP-2 “Sarath” ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1987 and 1991. 400 BMP-2 “Sarath” ordered in 1985 and produced in India between 1992 and 1995 at Ordnance Factory Medak of Ordnance Factories Board under Russian licence. 123 BMP-2K ordered in 2006 from Russia and delivered between 2007 and 2008. Around 300 BMP-2 “Sarath” were in service in 1995, 1,000 in 2000 and 2002, around 1,000 in 2005 and more than 1,000 in 2008 and about 2,500 in 2020.
