Army to get special vehicles for high-altitude areas

Ajay Banerjee

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New Delhi, May 12

Keeping its focus firmly on securing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, the Ministry of Defence has asked for 500 specialised high-mobility vehicles for rapid deployment of troops.

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The MoD wants vehicles that can operate at heights of more than 17,000 feet in the Himalayas and have protection against enemy fire and are fitted with guns.

The Request for Information (RFI) — the first stage of the tendering process — was issued tonight asking Indian vendors to respond. This comes just five days after the MoD sought to procure small-sized surveillance drones — also called quad copters — for operations in the Himalayas.

The RFI issued today is for “protected mobility vehicle” (PMV). The MoD desires vehicles that can do some 80 km per hour and can operate in temperatures between 40°C and -15°C. The vehicles should have 4×4 drive mode with automatic transmission, and should be able to carry a minimum of 10 troops with combat loads.

The vehicle needs to be less than 14 tonnes in weight. At an altitude of 17,000 feet, it should be able to carry 2 tonnes of payload – men and equipment – and come equipped with heating as well as air conditioning.

The Army seeks protection against mine blasts and grenade blasts.

It should have platform to mount 7.62mm light machine-gun and have ports on its sides to allow troops sitting inside to fire.

The Himalayas have several fast-flowing rivers and bridges. The MoD wants the vehicle to have the ability to sail across these rivers.