Tata Motors has won an order to supply 1,239 units of its high-mobility 6X6 multi-axle trucks to the Indian Army. The trucks would be used for loading, unloading and transportation of ammunition, spares and other operational equipment.
The order is valued at over Rs 900 crore and is the single largest order awarded to a private Indian original equipment manufacturer.
The all-wheel-drive vehicle, which is capable of traversing across all terrains, has completed a total trial duration of 25 months in the most demanding conditions such as extreme temperatures and water-crossing, apart from other diverse rough terrains.
The 6X6 multi-axle truck is fitted with a special system such as the central tire-inflation system for mobility in soft sand conditions. The system allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure from his seat which provides the vehicle with better traction on various surfaces, even while carrying heavy loads.
Moreover, Tata Motors is in anticipation of the Indian Army’s announcement for an order for new SUVs that would be used as general service vehicle. The government had shortlisted the Safari Storme and Mahindra’s Scorpio more than two years ago, after which both were put into testing.
“The Army wanted to move away from a 500kg platform, dominated by Gypsy, to an 800kg platform as the need was for a heavier payload. The initial quantity of the order is 3,192 units. The version of Safari Storme for the Army is quite different from the one available for civilians. The drivetrain has been upgraded and the suspension has been majorly modified to take care of offload capabilities,” Vernon Noronha, Vice President, Defence & Government Business, Tata Motors Limited said.
Noronha also added that Tata Motors Defence Solutions currently has an order book of around Rs 1,500 crore. The company is also competing for an order of 700 light-armoured multi-roll vehicles that the military is looking to procure.