Tata Motors Showcase All New Indigenous Frontline Combat Vehicles

Tata Motors, the country’s leading supplier of mobility solutions to the armed security forces, today showcased two new combat vehicles at the Defexpo 2014. As part of the company’s strategy to enhance the scope of its defence business right up to frontline combat, Tata Motors showcased the KESTREL, a wheeled armoured amphibious platform providing mobility to frontline soldiers, carrying them into the battle zone, with critical armour-protection, backed with adequate fire support. The LAMV (light armoured high mobility vehicle) is a recon vehicle moving ahead of the armoured columns. Tata Motors Defence through the KESTREL and the LAMV provides the Indian armed forces, with world-class indigenously developed frontline protected mobility.

The KESTREL, designed and developed indigenously with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for optimised survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality. The occupant capacity of the hull is 12 members. The driver in combat mode has visibility through three periscopes and a display catching vision through front and rear view cameras, with day and night vision. The back to back seating layout allows firing through the 3 gun ports on each side, with two big hatches for patrolling. The fuel tanks are placed outside the crew compartment for additional safety. The 8 x 8 independently suspended vehicle has high power-to-weight ratio for mountain terrains. The vehicle can accommodate different variety of weapon stations and turrets as the application demands.

The LAMV is developed indigenously with technical inputs from Supacat of the UK, for vital reconnaissance mobility, protection and firepower. A light patrol vehicle, the LAMV combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including a protected all composite detachable crew pod and V-shaped hull, providing an all-round protection. Carrying a crew of six (two + four) and using the latest composite and ceramic armour systems, the crew pod is constructed as a separate module, sealed off from potential secondary projectiles. All seats are mine-blast protected. The LAMV has exceptional all-terrain high mobility performance, high power-to-weight ratio, automatic transmission, all-wheel independent suspension and can reach speeds of up to 105 kmph. The vehicle is also loaded with modern equipment for observation, surveillance and communication, configured to also address urban warfare, engaging threat on all terrains.

Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd, says: “Tata Motors has been associated with the country’s defence and security forces for over 60 years, supplying a range of worldclass, high technology and reliable off-road mobility solutions. While focusing on the modernisation and system upgrades of the country’s mobility platforms, we have strategically moved from being a logistics support provider to a frontline combat vehicle player. The two vehicles showcased today are state-of-the-art, targeted at giving our forces the much needed capabilities of strategic mobility for rapid offensive thrusts into enemy territory. Developed with DRDO, the KESTREL is based on modern modular designs, which can incorporate imperative upgrades, thereby enabling them to retain functional superiority throughout their service life.”