Mahindra set to deliver light vehicles to Indian Army

The Indian Army ordered 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles in 2021. The vehicles are expected to be operated along India's border with China. (MDSL)

Indian company Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) will deliver the first batch of 4×4 Light Specialist Vehicles (LSVs) known as Armado to the Indian Army by the end of July, MDSL head of sales and marketing for land systems Colonel Manish Kumar (retd) told Janes.

The first batch will comprise 40 Armados, Col Kumar said. MDSL is supplying a total of 1,300 LSVs to the Indian Army under a contract, signed in March 2021, worth INR10.56 billion (USD129 million).

The LSV order was fast-tracked amid the stand-off between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Janes reported at that time. The Indian Army is scheduled to induct all the vehicles by 2025.

According to MDSL, the 4×4 LSV – powered by a 3.2 litre 215 hp diesel engine – is equipped with a four/six-speed automatic transmission with front and rear differential locks. The LSV, which has a top speed of 120 km/h, has a 1,000 kg payload capacity and features a “self-recovery winch” and an “all-wheel independent suspension” system, according to MDSL.

The LSV offers ballistic protection up to B7, STANAG Level II. The vehicle can carry six troops including the driver.

The vehicle is equipped with an in-service Global Positioning System (GPS), detachable and adjustable modular racks, an automatic grenade launcher, an electric winch, high-frequency radio, and screen and windows mesh protection. The vehicle also comprises a medium machine gun mount, camouflage net storage, blast mitigation floor mat, and tactical command-and-control with mapping.