Indian Army Set To Get More 6x6 High Mobility Vehicles For Easing Logistics Movements In Forward Areas

The Indian Army is in the process of procuring 650 high mobility vehicles (HMV) with a 6X6 configuration and material handling crane (MHC) capabilities, The Indian Express reported.

These vehicles are intended to aid in the transportation of ammunition and heavy equipment across challenging terrains, including the mountainous areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and Sikkim, as well as desert terrains along the Pakistan border.

This comes weeks after the Indian Army ordered high mobility 4x4 and 6x6 trucks worth Rs 800 crore from Ashok Leyland for towing artillery guns and howitzers.

Officials have highlighted the strategic importance of these HMVs in boosting the army's capacity to transport heavy ammunition across various landscapes.

The inclusion of material handling cranes will facilitate quicker loading and unloading of ammunition, thereby reducing manual effort.

These features were previously only found in Scania ammunition carrier trucks associated with the Bofors Artillery System, but these Scania trucks are ageing, and such capabilities in other trucks like Tatra and KrAZ don't come with MHC installed.

According to a request for information (RFI) released by the army, these 6×6 HMVs will be designed to handle payloads of at least 8,000 kg and tow a minimum load of 20 tonnes.

The RFI also emphasises the versatility of the platform, including potential modifications for troop transport, container carriage on the flatbed, and other specialised roles.

The vehicles are expected to perform in extreme weather conditions and be transportable by Indian Air Force aircraft such as the IL 76 and C 17, as well as by broad-gauge railway military bogeys.

Additionally, the HMVs should not weigh more than 24,000 tonnes.

In terms of the MHC's capabilities, the RFI specifies a requirement for outreach payload capacity capable of lifting ammunition pallets or heavy loads weighing a minimum of 700 kg at a reach of 9 metres.

Additionally, the vehicles should be equipped with contemporary turbocharged diesel engines and possess a service life of at least 15 years or a minimum of 150,000 km.