India’s leading private sector defence manufacturer Ashok Leyland Friday announced that it has won a tender to supply tracked combat vehicle for Indian Army.
The tender for development of the tracked combat vehicle marks Ashok Leyland’s foray into tracked vehicle business, which is at present the largest supplier of wheeled vehicles to Indian Army.
Ashok Leyland, a Hinduja Group company, will collaborate with Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai for manufacture, assembly and testing of light-weight clutch for the design and development of weight optimized 1500 horse power automatic transmission for main battle tanks.
Amandeep Singh, Head, Defence, Ashok Leyland said, “As per our focus area of ‘solutions for mobility on land’, we have been working on the tracked vehicles. With this win, we start working on the tracked vehicles that our soldiers use.”
Talking about the business potential in this field, Amandeep Singh said, “We see huge potential in re-powering and upgrading of existing BMPs and Tanks of the Indian Army.
Ashok Leyland’s 4×4 vehicle (official photo).
Ashok Leyland said it had expertise to develop indigenous solutions for power packs and running gear for upgrade of existing Infantry Combat Vehicles as well as for the new FICVs (Future Infantry Combat Vehicles).
In a statement, Amandeep Singh of Ashok Leyland said that the company was the only vehicle manufacturer in India having indigenously designed, developed and manufactured power packs beyond 350 horse power.
“The tracked combat vehicle opportunity also exists in several other countries which use Russian made combat vehicles,” said Amandeep Singh, head of defence of Ashok Leyland.
