In keeping with the need of a vehicle that can traverse across any kind of terrain, Bengaluru based startup, A-THON All-Terrain Private Limited, established in 2022, has developed ASHVA which is an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The platform was tested by the Indian Army during military Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 and saw several configurations of the ASHVA platform.
The ASHVA is a small, fast, off-road military buggy that can carry soldiers and launch drones for surveillance in difficult terrain. The vehicle is built to excel across farmland, industrial sites, off-road adventures, and rescue missions, and the ASHVA 4S combines performance, durability, and advanced features for maximum utility and comfort. It is a completely 100% Made in India and is engineered and built to meet the demands of Indian terrains and industries. It has robust safety and handling capability with all four-disc brakes combined with advanced independent suspension which can deliver top-tier control and safety.
This indigenously developed high ground clearance and durable chassis is designed to easily overcome challenging off-road conditions while maintaining structural strength. Besides another big benefit of this vehicle is that it has doorstep Delivery and Service which makes it convenient to provide nationwide support with doorstep delivery and servicing options. Another big benefit is that it is capable of providing swift spare parts dispatch and giving genuine spare parts which is available with guaranteed dispatch within 48 hours. It also has customised options with wide range of accessories and tailored options to meet agricultural, industrial, and recreational needs.
The ASHVA 4S, proudly crafted for India, is the ideal choice for customers demanding a powerful, reliable, and feature-rich utility vehicle for off-road and functional uses with enhanced performance and versatility.
The exercise by the Army saw four types of platforms which were 1) ASHVA 4X4 2S – a two-seater version with a tethered UAV for surveillance. 2) ASHVA 4X4 4S which is a 4-seater troop transport 3) ASHVA 4X4 5S which is 5-seat version carrying VTOL drone and 4) ASHVA 6X6 2S which is six-wheel drive version for heavier missions.
The vehicle was also tested at high altitude capability of over 20,000 feet in Ladakh. This is in keeping with India’s push to be self-dependent in defence or Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The government’s aim is to replace imported ATVs used by special forces and infantry units.
ASHVA was the only IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) vehicle platform at Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026, the first major strike corps battle in the history of the Indian Army since Operation Sindoor. Four different ASHVA configurations, each customised to Western Command’s specific operational requirements have been developed:
- ASHVA 4×4 2S: Two-seater with tethered drone system for persistent surveillance and targeting, 72-hour independent operations.
- ASHVA 4×4 4S: Four-seater configured for rapid troop and equipment deployment into forward areas.
- ASHVA 4×4 5S: Five-seater with fixed wing VTOL drone integration, drone carrying and drone charging via engine power take off, silent generator and battery pack. It carries five fully equipped operators, with a closed cabin
- ASHVA 6×6 2S: The world’s only 6×6 all-terrain side-by-side vehicle. Six-wheel drive with gun mounts and customised as a reconnaissance vehicle for extreme terrain.
These are not imported Indian sticker platforms. All ASHVAs are indigenously manufactured, designed and developed by Indian engineers with Indian intellectual property. A-THON is under the IDDM category, which will put it in the most preferred procurement category in the upcoming DAP 2026.
The vehicle tested at 20,000 feet has also been proven in the Desert. The recent achievement of the Kharga Shakti is the final landmark on a four-month continuous trial campaign by Harshit Modi, A-THON Founder. The ASHVA series has been verified and tested in Ladakh (Pangong Tso at 14,270 ft, Marsimik La at 18,314 ft, Chusul Heights at 20,000+ ft), Uttarakhand (Joshimath to Sidhi top at 16,500 ft) and in the Technical Evaluation Centre at Agra, and TEC approvals are currently in place. A-THON was the only company to perform autonomous defence trials, with A-THON having run trials of the 6×6 platform at Babina Fire Range and shown to the Vice Chief of the Indian Army and Army Design Bureau.
“Our Discovery Engine is meant for mobility beyond roads, where only humans and quadrupeds can tread. 80% of Earth’s landmass is inaccessible to conventional vehicles. For decades, the answer to that problem came from outside India. We said no. We started with a blank sheet, Indian engineers, Indian soil, Indian ambition, and we designed every system from the ground up. ASHVA is not a response to what exists. It is a rethinking of what all-terrain mobility should be. Drone carrier. Drone charger. VTOL integration. Artillery haulier. The world’s only 6×6 side by side. Validated at 20,000 feet and across the deserts of Rajasthan in Exercise Kharga Shakti, the only IDDM platform in the exercise. We do not follow a category. We are creating one,” said Irfann Sheriff, Chief Visionary and Architect of A-THON.
As of February 10, 2026, the draft DAP 2026 has removed the category of Buy (Indian) procurement altogether. The alternative that is now favoured is Buy (Indian IDDM), whereby equipment has to be designed, developed and manufactured in-house. This has been put by the Ministry of Defence as a transition from Made in India to Owned by India. A-THON is already there. Presently, the Indian Army and Air Force are relying on imported all-terrain vehicles, most of which are related to the USA and Canada.
The ASHVA series of A-THON is the first indigenous alternative developed by India that targets the theatres of India and now proven in the exercise of the Indian Army itself. It is an Industry partner with ARTPARK, IISc Bengaluru (AI and Robotics Technology Park, funded by DST and Government of Karnataka). The company has inked an MoU with DRIF (Defence Research Innovation Foundation) at IIT Ropar for defence R&D and ATATS development. The platforms have been demonstrated to the Vice Chief of the Indian Army, ADB, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, and DST.
– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda.
