Ashok Leyland to Deliver 81 High Mobility Vehicles to Indian Army

India’s Ashok Leyland will deliver 81 high mobility 10x10 vehicles for the Indian Army’s Russian-built Smerch Multi-Barrel Rocket launchers (MBRL) as well to carry strategic missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

“The delivery will start in this financial year and will be completed in the next financial year,” said Amandeep Singh, head of Defense, Ashok Leyland was quoted as saying by the Hindu Sunday.

The Indian defense ministry (MoD) floated a tender for the vehicles for the Army in 2015 and trials were completed in 2017-end.  

In April this year, Ashok Leyland was awarded a ₹100-crore (US $14.5 million) contract for 81 high mobility 10x10 vehicles by the Army to replace the Russian vehicles which currently carry the Smerch launchers.

The 10x10 vehicle is powered by the Ashok Leyland 360HP Neptune engine and can carry a maximum load of 27 tonnes at a maximum speed of 60 kmph. Some of the vehicles will be fitted with rocket handling cranes, the news daily reported.

Ashok Leyland also won a tender from the DRDO to develop an even heavier 12x12 vehicle to mount the country’s long range strategic missiles. These vehicles can carry a maximum load of 34 tonnes.

India initially procured two regiments of the 12-tube, 300 mm Smerch systems from Russia under a ₹2,600 crore (US $378 million) signed in end 2015, and later procured additional systems under a second deal in 2007. Each regiment has two batteries of six launchers each. The Smerch has a maximum range of 90 km.