New Delhi: Following the standoff with China in May 2020, focus has been on scaling up of infrastructure and operational deployments along the northern borders.
To further augment its mobility in tough terrains along the border areas, the Indian Army is looking to procure 650 high mobility vehicles (HMV) 6X6 with material handling crane to help transport ammunition and heavy equipment in the mountainous areas along the LAC in Ladakh and Sikkim, as well as in the desert terrains along the Pakistan border, according to a media report.
Issuing a Request for Information (RFI) on August 9, the Army said the vehicles will be used for transportation of heavy equipment and stores on metalled roads and tracks. The 6×6 HMVs will have a payload capacity of at least 8,000 kg and tow a minimum load of 20 tonne.
According to the RFI, the platform should facilitate modification for other uses, including carrying of troops, carrying containers on the flatbed and other specialist roles. It also said that the vehicles should be able to operate in extreme temperatures and weather conditions and be transported by the Indian Air Force’s IL 76 and C 17 transport aircraft and broad-gauge railway military bogeys. The weight of the vehicle should not exceed 24,000 kg.
The RFI further said that the outreach payload capability of the material handling crane (MHC) should be able to lift ammunition pallets or heavy loads weighing a minimum 700 kg at a reach of 9 metres.
The vehicle engine will be a contemporary turbocharged diesel engine and the vehicle should have a service life of not less than 15 years or 1,50,000 km, the RFI added.
While the HMVs will boost the Army’s capability of transporting heavy ammunition across terrains, the material handling crane (MHC) will make loading and unloading of vehicles faster and reduce manual effort, the officials said.
The HMVs are also used in operations, especially in deserts, to ferry Infantry troops and to help them keep pace with the rapidly advancing Armoured columns, to tow guns and carry artillery ammunition.
The media report quoting an official said that till now, this configuration only existed with the Scania ammunition carrier trucks that were part of the Bofors Artillery System, while the Scania trucks are ageing, the other trucks — Tatra and KrAZ — do not have the MHC.
