From Maruti Gypsy to Tata QRFV: How defense vehicles built in India have evolved – Times of India

Indian automobile manufacturers today prefer Mahindra And Tata Motors big when it comes to defense vehicle, However before he took charge, there was another made-in-India vehicle used by the defense forces called the Jonga. It originated in the 1969 Nissan Patrol P60 and Nissan 4W73 (Nissan Carrier). Manufactured in Jabalpur, Jonga It went out of production in 1999, even though 20,000 Jonga were still in service as of 2013. How have personnel carriers and combat vehicles evolved in India since then, even when India has its own jet fighter and battle tank? Here’s a look.
Personnel carrier and utility
The most popular of these is the Maruti Gypsy. Based on the longer wheelbase version of the Suzuki Jimny SJ40/410, gypsy Being produced at Maruti Suzuki’s Gurugram plant since 1985 (now only for the Indian Armed Forces). The Gypsy is still in service, as is the Mahindra 550 DXB, the successor to the MM540 Jeep which replaced the Jonga when it was discontinued in 1999.

Tata Motors produced a long list of defense vehicles which includes armored versions of the Tata Sumo and Tata Safari Storme which are set to replace the Gypsy soon. Mahindra also distributes the armored version of the Mahindra Scorpio to the defense forces.
Apart from these, the Indian Army also uses Force Gurkha, Tata Xenon, Mitsubishi Pajero and several ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles) including Arctic Cat Ultra TBX 700, Polaris Sportsman 6×6, ATV, Polaris Ranger and Polaris MRZR.
combat vehicle
A fresh news has come from this front. In July this year, a batch of new combat vehicles was delivered to the Indian Army in Ladakh. These made-in-India Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles (QRFVs) are said to be faster and promise better maneuverability to operate in high altitude areas with difficult terrain.
In a first development in the Indian defense ecosystem, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) became the first private sector company in India to produce and deliver wheeled armored combat-ready vehicles for the Indian Armed Forces in April this year.

Designed and manufactured at TASL’s Pune facility, the military mobility vehicle is built on an 8×8 Wheeled Armored Platform (WhAP) with Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), a unit of DRDO. TASL’s flagship product, which is also based on the WhAP 8×8, is India’s first Amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle (Wheeled).
Mahindra supplies several combat vehicles to the Indian Army. These include the Mahindra MPV-I which is a mine resistant armored carrier and off-road vehicle. Powered by a 227 hp diesel engine mated to a 6×6 drivetrain, the MPV-I gets features including a gun port, roof hatch, protected fuel tank and ballistic protection, among other features.

One of the most popular light combat vehicles, the Mahindra Marksman is a lightweight bulletproof vehicle that can seat up to six people. The vehicle is protected not only from small firearms but also from grenade attacks. Marksmen are mainly used for counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir. You must have also seen marksmen posted in high security areas of Delhi or Mumbai.
Many other Made-in-India Defense vehicles are currently in service like Caspir, OFB Aditya, Mahindra Stratton Plus, Mahindra Rakshak and more. Keeping in mind the development and production capabilities of the indigenous manufacturers, the vehicle lineup manufactured in India will expand to a much greater length.