Army to acquire light tanks for Ladakh, tenders invited

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

The Indian Army and the Navy have invited tenders seeking specialised light tanks for use in Ladakh and light utility helicopter that can fly off the deck of warships, respectively.

The Army is looking at a “Make-in-India” option to get 350 tanks which weigh less than 25 tonnes each and are easy to operate in extreme cold of the Himalayas.

The Navy is to lease utility helicopters to replace the aging fleet of 1960’s Cheetah helicopters. Both forces on Friday issued a request for information (RFI), the first stage of the tendering process.

In case of the tanks, the Defence Ministry tender bid says it wants “a new generation combat vehicle platform, approximately 350 light tanks in a phased manner”. The supplier would have to provide logistics, bring in niche technologies, provide an engineering support package, meet maintenance and training requirements and enable transfer of technology.

The tanks should be for a “foreseeable operational scenario” that is looking at an agile and mobile light platform with adequate firepower, protection, surveillance and communication capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Navy in its RFI says it looks to lease 24 copters from foreign vendors or authorised leasing firms. The lease period is five years and is to include all maintenance support including logistics along with the training of air and maintenance crew.

The Navy is looking for a copter that is 5 tonnes or less. It should have the ability to carry out search and rescue at sea, meaning its radar and sensors should be able to operate in all weather conditions and during night or day. The copter should be able to carry out medical evacuation from sea and carry out low intensity maritime operations while operating from ships and shore.

The Navy wants a twin-engine copter piloted by two pilots with capability to fold the rotors for easy storage on ships.

Navy seeks light utility copters

• The Army is looking at a ‘Make-in-India’ option to get 350 tanks which weigh less than 25 tonnes each and are easy to operate in extreme cold of the Himalayas
• The Navy too has invited tenders for light utility copters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah helicopters
• Navy is looking for a copter that is 5 tonnes or less and it should have the ability to carry out search and rescue at sea

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