Tata Motors showcased a new Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV) at the 6th International Land and Naval Systems Exhibition, also called DEFEXPO India 2012, held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from March 29 to April 1. This is a highly mobile combat vehicle for indoor combat inside airports, railway stations and other such infrastructure. The concept is the first of its kind design to assist the country’s elite forces in indoor combat.
Besides, Tata Motors launched four other defence vehicles – the Tata 12×12 Prahaar Missile Carrier, Tata Light Armoured Vehicle, Tata Mobile Bunker and the Tata 6×6 7kl Refueler – and displayed a range of other concept vehicles such as the Tata Quick Deployment Mobile Communication Terminal (QDMCT).
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. P.M. Telang, Managing Director – India Operations, Tata Motors, said: “The launch of our new combat & tactical vehicles and equipment, leveraged from our strength in design and development of a wide range of commercial vehicles, now enables us to cover the entire defence mobility spectrum. Tata Motors defence solutions already covers the complete range of logistics and armoured vehicles that have also been popular in supporting the police and paramilitary forces in counter insurgency operations.”
At DEFEXPO, Tata Motors displayed the scaled models of its concept futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV), including the turret. In addition, the proposed layout of the production facility was also displayed.
Tata Motors is one of the four Indian companies which has been issued the Expression of Interest (EoI) by the Indian Army for the FICV, a ‘Make Indian’ project. The company has accordingly responded to the EoI based on indigenous design and development in association with key technology partners, and submitted its response in October 2010.
The MBPV Project is being jointly developed by VRDE-DRDO and Tata Motors for providing the country’s elite commando forces with a protected mobility solution that assists them during indoor combat against insurgents. The need for this kind of a solution has been felt desperately by commando units that face multiple hostage situations wherein terrorists have been holed up inside confined premises, houses, hotels, malls and airports.
MBPV has been designed keeping indoor combat in mind, with special features like bullet-resistant panels for protection, compact dimensions with 4-wheel assisted turning for easy movement within indoor confines and high power-to-weight ratio for fast and agile movement, during combat. Firing ports have also been incorporated for retaliatory action. Moreover, it has an added capability of climbing stairs as well.
The company has developed an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive, Tata LPTA 5252-12 X12 vehicle, specifically for missile launcher-cum-carrier applications like integration of Prahar, BrahMos and Nirbhay Missiles, in close co-ordination with R&DE – DRDO.
Tata Motors has developed the Tata Light Armoured Vehicle to aid the troops in counter-insurgency operations, as well as for patrolling the hinterland. In line with this, the vehicle has been engineered to be far superior to its competitors in terms of performance, safety & convenience and meeting CMVR regulations.
Tata Mobile Bunker has been designed on the LPA 713 4-wheel drive platform, to ensure fast & safe movement of troops in naxal infested states and to act as a platform for retaliatory action. The vehicle is protected against gunfire, corresponding to ballistic protection of NIJ Level III. It is a highly mobile platform and can be used as a base for various protected applications like troop carriers, ambulances and buses.
Tata 6×6 7kl Refueler is an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive refueler vehicle specifically for the Indian Armed Forces, paramilitary, State police, DPSUs, State Government and municipal agencies and the aviation industry. The base vehicle has already been trial-evaluated by the Indian Armed Forces, for various applications like Common Gun Tower, HMV with material handling crane and multi-barrel rocket launcher GRAD BM 21.
The Tata LSV – QDMCT is a shelter based, self-contained vehicle-mounted communication system that provides wide area IP network and reliable and secured IP connectivity for data, voice & video between various nodes. Multiple communication media have been provided for both data & voice connectivity.
The state-of-the-art product is designed and developed in collaboration with RCI – DRDO. The system has found an ideal platform in the Tata LSV, which is a high payload, high mobility and low silhouette military platform designed for withstanding tough weather and terrain conditions.
Tata Motors has further developed a mobile water decontamination system on the LPTA 3138 8×8, for all-terrain, all weather operation in collaboration with WEW (Germany). This application is especially developed keeping in view the drinking water contamination problem faced by the Armed Forces in disaster-struck areas. This application is also apt for State Governments and various municipal agencies to tackle the issue of supplying drinking water to remote villages. This water decontamination system is capable of purifying the most impure forms of water and makes it portable through the reverse osmosis (RO) process.
The Tata 8×8 Missile Carrier is an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive vehicle specifically for various all-terrain applications.
The Indian Armed Forces are currently looking at procuring a 4-wheel drive, high mobility platform, for induction into the Defence Services as a General Service vehicle, to be used for transporting officers during peacetime, as well as during conflicts, across locations in India. Tata Motors has designed and developed the Safari Storme GS 800, in-house, in line with the requirements of the forces.
It inculcates a strengthened chassis & suspension system, enhanced braking efficiency of the vehicle, to take care of the additional armoring weight, so that its performance remains similar to that of the unarmored Safari. Such a vehicle carries a CMVR certificate and is legal to run on road as per CMVR.
Another development is the Xenon Recce 4×4, specifically for off-road patrolling usage by the Armed Forces, both in India and abroad. For this purpose, the company has developed separate engines complying with both BS III and Euro norms. Equipped with state-of-the-art high mobility features, the Xenon Recce provides the Central Paramilitary Forces and State police forces with a lethal platform to carry out combing operations and jungle warfare with ease.
The Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) has been developed by Tata Motors to protect its occupants from threats like ambushes and sudden violent attacks, using powerful explosive mines. Tata MPV takes troop protection to the next level. Designed to protect against gunfire, with ballistic protection of NIJ Level III, it provides essential protection to military and para military forces.
Tata Motors has been associated with the country’s off-road defence and security forces since 1958 and has supplied over one lakh vehicles to the Indian military and paramilitary forces so far. The company offers its products and services that not only meet the needs of the domestic market but are also positioned to meet most stringent requirements across the world. It also exports its range of specialised defence vehicles to the SAARC, ASEAN and African regions. With Tata Motors’ rich portfolio in multi-axle range like 12×12, 8×8 & 6×6, the company has started supplying to leading Missile OEMs across the world.
The company has established itself as a supplier of specialist vehicles for UN peace-keeping missions, and its range of off-road vehicles are also being procured by the agencies involved in AID & Development across the world like GSA, KBR, Oxfam and RONCO.