Boost To ‘Make In India’: Army’s Tactical Vehicles Requirement To Drive Domestic Defence Production Through 2028

As the Indian Army modernizes its vast transport, logistics and utility vehicle stocks and replace its remaining stocks of foreign designs with high-quality indigenous vehicles, It will continue to acquire locally manufactured tactical vehicles on a large scale over the course of coming decade, reports Defense & Security Monitor.

According to the report, the Army will be on a procurement spree, accounting for a majority of Indian tactical vehicle production till 2028.

In 2015, Army put an order of 1,239 6x6 High Mobility Vehicles(HMVs) with the Tata Motors, which was followed by a further order of 619 HMVs in mid-2016. The HMV will perform as a material-handling support platform, equipped with a crane to facilitate transport and field use of artillery ammunition stocks.  It will also feature communications and surveillance equipment, and provide technical, engineering and vehicle maintenance support.

In 2016, Indian Army awarded Tata Motors a contract to supply 3,192 GS800 Safari Storme tactical vehicles, a military variant of a civilian SUV with the same name. This is intended to compliment and an eventual replacement of the Gypsy vehicles that are produced by Maruti Suzuki.

Also in the line are, Ashok Leyland’s Super Stallions, 450 Super Stallion vehicles and 850 4×4 ambulance variants and 850 ambulance variants. Ashok Leyland, according to the executives, is delivering around 2,500 stallion vehicles on an annual basis to the Indian Military.