Pune: Army Chief Inducts Indigenously Developed Specialist Vehicles Into Service

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 12th April 2022: General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), accompanied by Lt Gen Manoj Pande, the Vice Chief of Army Staff is on a two-day visit to Pune.

At a function organised at the Bombay Engineer Group (BEG) and Centre today, the Army Chief inducted the first set of indigenously developed Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle Medium (QRFV), Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), Ultra Long Range Observation System developed by Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL) and Monocoque Hull Multi Role Mine Protected Armoured Vehicle developed by Bharat Forge.

The COAS appreciated TATA and Bharat Forge for their commitment in strengthening “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of the Government of India and continued engagement with the Indian Army for past decades. The induction of these indigenously developed Systems by TASL and Bharat Forge would greatly enhance the operational capabilities of Indian Army in future conflicts. A number of retired and serving dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Sukaran Singh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, TASL said, “The successful delivery of IPMVs is a major milestone for TASL and the Indian defence manufacturing sector as it marks the first commercial sale of a strategic platform that has been co-developed by DRDO and a private player. TASL has achieved this milestone after withstanding the challenges and delays caused by the pandemic, which makes the achievement even more remarkable for us.”

The IPMVs have been developed and manufactured at TASL’s Pune facility. These IPMVs have been built on the strategic 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) indigenously designed and developed by TASL along with the Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a unit of DRDO. The vehicles have undergone stringent field trials in deserts as well as high altitude areas by the Indian Army. The IPMVs also include TASL’s in-house designed and developed Remote Controlled Weapon Station with thermal sights and external add-on armour protection panels developed by Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory of DRDO.