10 July, 2015, Mint
Tata Motors Ltd has secured an order to supply around 1,200 high-mobility 6X6 multi-axle trucks to the Indian Army.
The contract, valued at over
Rs.900 crore, is the single largest land systems order awarded to an Indian-origin equipment manufacturer in the private sector under the defence procurement procedure followed by the Indian army.
The Indian market size for such vehicles, or futuristic infantry combat vehicles (FICV), is estimated around $ 10 billion.
The order for 6X6 vehicles is for ‘material handling cranes’ for the loading-unloading and transportation of ammunition pallets, spares and other operational equipment.
“The order is a validation of our strategy and growth potential, for our durable and extensive range of defence vehicles, designed and developed with our evolving customers, including that of security forces across the world. As leading suppliers of mobility solutions to the country’s security forces, we will shortly commence delivery of these high-mobility vehicles,” said Vernon Noronha, vice president, defence & government business, Tata Motors.
Tata Motors offers a wide range of vehicles, in the light, medium and heavy category to the defence sector. The company has a focused division to design and develop defence technologies and products at its manufacturing facilities in Jamshedpur and Pune.
Tata Motors has been associated with the country’s off-road defence and security forces since 1958 and has supplied over 100,000 vehicles to Indian military and paramilitary forces, so far.