Indian Army Inducts Indigenously Developed Next Generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle

In a big boost to Indian Army's reconnaissance capabilities, General M M Naravane on Tuesday (21 December) inducted indigenously developed next generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) into the Army.

The system has been designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak and Bharat Electronics Limited, Pune.

"The first set of indigenously developed next generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle was inducted into the Corps of Engineers of Indian Army in a solemn function attended by Gen MM Naravane, the Chief of Army Staff at Pune on Tuesday (21 December)", said a Defence Ministry release.

Despite the various restrictions imposed due to the COVID pandemic since the last one year, supply of the vehicle to Indian Army has been on schedule, it added.

The 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 ministry said.

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, it added.