India goes Atmanirbhar, India’s military gets its own version of US Army Humvee

The Indian military is set to receive its own version of the famous US Army Humvee, a light tactical vehicle that has come to symbolize battlefield mobility. On March 22, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems (MDSL) for the supply of 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles (LSV) to the Indian Army for Rs 1,056 crore.

The induction of cars is expected to take four years, according to a MoD press release issued on Monday. “The LSV is a modern fighting vehicle that will be authorized for carriage of medium machine guns (MMGs), automatic grenade launchers (AGLs), and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to various fighting units,” the MoD said.

MDSL designed and produced the LSV in-house. It is a highly manoeuverable fighting vehicle with all-around protection against small-arms fire. Its purpose is to support small autonomous detachments in the operational area. MDSL won the open tender contest in which the MoD sought competitive bids from Indian enterprises. The engines that were fielded, including the LSV, were put through rigorous testing in a variety of operating environments, including high altitude, deserts, and plains.

“The LSV is the only vehicle that passed all field, ballistics, and technical trials,” MDSL stated in a press release on Tuesday. MDS designed and produced the LSV in-house, using a modular design that they claim “makes it future evidence.”

“Additionally, as the vehicle’s OEM (original equipment manufacturer), MDS has the necessary IP (intellectual property) and capabilities in all aspects, from LSV variant development to complete life cycle support,” MDS says. “This contract truly represents the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-sufficiency India) initiative. It is the country’s first big contract for advanced armoured tactical vehicles designed and manufactured by the private sector in India with intellectual property rights. This contract paves the way for the widespread use of Indian platforms with indigenous capabilities.”

One variant of the MDS LSV is currently in use with the Indian Battalion, which is part of the UN Peacekeeping mission in Africa. Other friendly foreign nations have also requested information about this vehicle for their activities, demonstrating the export potential of this Indian-developed and manufactured armoured vehicle.