Representational Image – Force Gurkha
The Pune-based Force Motors, has announced that it has bagged a order from the Indian Army for supplying indigenously built Light Strike Vehicles (LSVs) that will be used by the armed forces for defense purposes.
The vehicle has been designed and developed by the R&D team of Force Motors, and claims the LSV boasts of higher speed and reliability. The OEM states that the LSVs not only uses the proven, rugged and reliable aggregates like engines and transmissions from the Force Motors’ stable but it is also uprated for the demanding applications of the Armed Forces.
The company states that the LSVs proved its mantle through the rigorous prototype trials conducted by the users for over two years, in tough and rough terrains as varied as the scorching deserts of Rajasthan (50 degree Celsius) to the sub-zero temperature in the Himalayas (-30 degree Celsius).
The vehicles are designed for quick ingress and egress, and are capable of performing on extreme terrain, with manoeuvrability, high speed and stability, 4×4 configuration, and have differential locks on all wheels, similar to the Force Gurkha. It is also equipped with run flat tyres and has provision to mount assault weapons like rocket launcher and machine guns. The LSVs can be airlifted and dropped into enemy territory, for use as an advance fast strike vehicle.
Speaking on the sidelines of the agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the Force Motors spokesperson said, “We are very happy that the Indian Army has reposed trust in the fully indigenous Light Strike Vehicle developed by our research and development team. This is a small but significant step in creating fully indigenous specialist vehicles for the Armed Forces – a truly ‘Make in India’ initiative”.
The company states it had also supplied the Indian Artillery with new engines for the 155mm Howitzer Guns (Bofors Guns), and is also working on trials for the adoption of its indigenously developed engines on the for the new generation Dhanush Gun, which is expected to succeed the Bofors Guns. Furthermore the Traveller and Trax range of vehicles are already in service, with most of the para-military organisations in the country.