DefExpo 2016: India orders HMVs from Tata

Tata Motors has been awarded a follow-on supply contract by the Indian Army for 619 high-mobility (HMV) 6x6 multi-axle trucks, it announced on 27 March. The contract is in addition to an earlier contract for 1,239 HMVs.

The vehicles have been designed for transportation and loading-unloading of ammunition pallets, spares and other operational equipment. Featuring water and mud fording capabilities, the HMVs are good at negotiating sand dunes, gradients, off-road terrain, and trenches. The vehicle also features a central tyre inflation system.

Vernon Noronha, vice president, defence and government business, Tata Motors, said: ‘With this contract we are proud to have received an additional order for 619 units, of our indigenously developed Tata 6x6 high-mobility vehicle, having cleared rigorous trials and successfully competed against products from rival bidders, from top European and global defence companies, underlining the stringent requirements of the Indian army, and the global standards of our defence offerings.

‘In line with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, we will continue to focus on further developing a comprehensive range of defence vehicles right here in India, including front line combat vehicles such as the FICV, to meet the evolving requirements of defence forces in India, and around the world.’

The vehicle can be customised as medium recovery vehicle, low level quick reaction missile vehicle, quick reaction surface to air missile vehicle, short range surface to air missile vehicle, field service vehicle, missile firing unit or missile service vehicle, multi barrel rocket launcher and common gun tower.