By Vaibhav Agrawal
Keeping its focus on protecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, The Ministry of Defence (MoD) raised a demand of around 500 specialised high mobility vehicles for rapid deployment of troops, in the previous month.
The ministry seeks vehicles that would cater to the military at heights exceeding 17,000 feet in the Himalayan terrain and would provide the troops against enemy fire and be fitted with guns. The news came just a few days after the MoD decided to induct quadcopters (small-sized surveillance drones) for operations in the Himalayas.
After China deployed the Type 15 light tanks (or Black Panther) in 2020, India had to rely on its heavier battle tanks while DRDO- L&T teamed up for a 35-ton tank based on K9 Vajra 155 mm self-propelled howitzer in response to Black Panther. Also, the Indian Army placed an order for M4 armoured vehicles with Bharat Forge under emergency purchase in February 2021.
Explaining the importance of Multi-utility vehicles defence and security analyst, Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi (r) opined that they play a crucial role in any country’s defence as these vehicles offer immense mobility and armoured protection and facilitate the safe carriage of troops in a war zone or counter-insurgency operations where the safety and security of every soldier are of paramount importance, and speed is of the essence in carrying out the assigned tasks successfully.
What Specifications Were Demanded?
The ministry desires the vehicle to have a maximum speed of around 80 km/hr and should be able to operate in temperatures between 40°c and -15°c. The vehicle should be able to carry a minimum of 10 troops with combat loads and have a 4×4 drive mode with automatic transmission.
The vehicle should not weigh more than 14 tonnes and should be able to carry 2 tonnes of payload (men and equipment) at an altitude of 17,000 feet. It is also expected to come equipped with heating and air conditioning.
The Army seeks protection against mine blasts and grenade blasts.
The vehicles should be equipped with a weapon mount to allow a 7.62 mm Light Machine Gun (LMG) to be fitted along with a turret with 360-degree rotation for the LMG. 11 firing ports with five each on the starboard and port side of the vehicle and one at the rear are also required by the vehicle.
The Himalayas have several fast-flowing rivers. The MoD wants the vehicle to have the ability to sail across these rivers, and so the PMV should be able to ford in water with a depth of 1000 mm without any special preparation.
A Range Of Multiutility Vehicles
In the past few years, Indian defence procurements are becoming crisis-driven. For instance, earlier tensions between Pakistan and India resulted in the purchase of 198 armoured personnel carriers announced by New Delhi and said to replace the BRDM combat reconnaissance patrol vehicles.
Open sources suggest that the forensic experts and intelligence officials in 2019 had ‘warned of more Pulwama-style improvised explosive device (IED) attacks on personnel in J&K,’ where a suicide bomber targetted the CRPF’s Convoy and claimed 40 lives. This increased the requirement for military vehicles, both for transportation and fighting. The global trend is for multi-utility vehicles that provide mobility, safety and fighting capability.
The Indian Army had placed an order for around 1,300 Armoured Light Specialist Vehicles (ALSV). The MoD had said in a statement that ‘The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. The Light Specialist Vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle. It will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of Medium Machine Guns, Automatic Grenade Launchers, and Anti-tank Guided Missiles.’
These combat vehicles come with protection against small-arms fire and would assist independent detachments required to operate the weapon platform. This project was announced to be undertaken indigenously.
Joseph P Chacko, the author of ‘Foxtrot to Arihant: The Story of Indian Navy’s Submarine Arm’ & ‘Warring Navies – India and Pakistan’ and a noted defence and security analyst, had this to say: “The Indian Army has about 2500 Sarath’s, which is the Indian built Russian BMP-2s. However, the force has caught up with Multi-Utility Vehicle use and now requires them for high altitudes after the skirmishes with the Chinese. The armour of light vehicles has also evolved. Unlike the Saraths, troops can be safely transported with much more comfort. Unlike the past’s foot patrols and lighter vehicles, these vehicles also allow more troops to be carried with more ammunition.”
IPMV By Tata
Earlier this year, an Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV) was handed over to Chief Of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane by the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), the first private sector company in the country to manufacture and deliver wheeled armoured combat-ready vehicles for the armed forces.
The vehicles inducted include an ultra-long-range observation system developed by the TASL, quick reaction fighting vehicle medium, monocoque hull multi-role mine-protected armoured vehicle designed by Bharat Forge and infantry protected mobility vehicle.
These have been developed on an 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), which is indigenously designed and developed by TASL and Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a unit of the DRDO.
Why Do Armoured Vehicles Stand As A Necessity?
Unlike infantry fighting vehicles which provide direct fire support to the troops, armoured personnel vehicles are not used in direct combat (though some have defensive capabilities).
With the increase in sub-conventional warfare that is often conducted in urban, semi-urban and inhabited places, militaries worldwide rely heavily on military vehicles. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have been pouring money into these vehicles. For lightweight bullet-proof armour, Honeywell has come up with bullet-proof fibre and ballistic composite materials like Gold Flex, Gold Shield and Spectra Shield. Apart from vests, plates and helmets, these lightweight materials are also used for armouring vehicles.
Lt Col. Sodhi (r) told IA&D: “A multi-utility vehicle can be a game-changer in a battlefield if employed judiciously keeping in view its capabilities in accordance with the military teachings as it provides quick carriage of a large body of troops with adequate safety. It is an extremely mobile weapon platform which can be deployed in widespread areas within a short time. Since it is tracked and amphibious, it is ideally suited for employment on different types of terrain, thus giving the battlefield commander immense agility and flexibility in conducting operations which are very fluid and dynamic in nature.”
According to reports in December 2020, CRPF would soon induct a 4×4 tactical and light armoured vehicle, Sherpa Light all-terrain vehicle, designed by Renault Trucks Defense, France. It is to be noted that even the CRPF started using the MPVs only after the 2016 militant attack, claiming the lives of eight personnel. In 2018, Sherpa was deployed in Kashmir and later in November and December 2020. This vehicle is already in use with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and National Security Guards (NSG).
Even though the MPVs or Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles provide protection from low-grade blasts, they cause major spinal injuries to the onboard personnel as the vehicle experiences severe shock and gets thrown in the air. Due to this, the use of MPVs made by the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) was halted by the CRPF as the MPVs could not withstand the IED blasts in LWE areas.
Meanwhile, The ambitious Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) has taken a backseat. Like the Mark I of the 12-year-old programme didn’t succeed, the Indian Army floated the idea of a Mark II advanced vehicle. The army chief has said that the army is trying to acquire these vehicles by 2026-2027, while Reliance, L&T, Mahindra and Tata are some private industries willing to participate in this programme.
Globally, the trend in military vehicles is to combine armoured infantry carriers with fighting capabilities.
Comparative Analysis Between Indigenously Developed MUVs & Others
Lt Col. Sodhi (r) explained that the Indian Army uses BMP-2, a Russian origin armoured protected multi-utility vehicle. In contrast, the Pakistani Army uses M-113, and the Chinese Army has ZSL-92 in its inventory. BMP-2 is vastly superior to M-113, but ZSL-92 fares better in the comparative analysis.
Chacko was of the view that the Indian private manufacturers have emerged as essential players in the protected vehicles segment and have started supplying their products, passing the stringent Indian Army requirements. Most of these companies have either modified foreign designs or hired the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for help with meeting the Indian Army’s specifications.
