Indian Army Inducts Mahindra's Light Specialist and All-Terrain Vehicles in its Fleet

Indian armed forces have inducted the Light Specialist and the All-Terrain Vehicle in its special vehicle fleet. The special vehicles have been designed and developed by Mahindra Defence Systems Limited, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra and a provider of armoured solutions for the military and paramilitary forces. Even the President of Mahindra Aerospace & Defence, Vinod Sahay, took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted images of these armoured vehicles, revealing that the Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV) has been developed and manufactured by Mahindra Defence for our armed forces. This comes after the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd. in 2021 for a supply of 1,300 light specialist vehicles to the Indian army, at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. 

ALSV proudly developed and manufactured by Mahindra Defense for our armed forces.

Working towards making our country self reliant on defense procurement. https://t.co/y3DRB2iaKq

— Vinod Sahay (@vinod_sahay) September 12, 2023

Also Read: Mahindra XUV400 Attracts Massive Discount of up to Rs 1.25 Lakh, Check Price Here

Mahindra Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle: What is it?

According to Mahindra Defence Systems, the Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle is intended to be a modular-type vehicle that can be modified or tailoured to assume a number of operational roles. The Mahindra ASLV can be used as an armoured protection vehicle for security missions, a light mortar 81/82mm vehicle, a light armoured ambulance, and an ammunition carrier for light weapons. 

These vehicles are equipped with anti-tank guided missiles and automated grenade launchers. When necessary, they can be used as personal carriers for transporting ammunition, supplies, and quick response teams. The ASLV is available in a 4-seater configuration with a payload capacity of 1,600 kilograms and offers ballistic protection that is capable of withstanding 7.62mm ammunition. The tank can hold up to 80 litres of fuel, while the vehicle tops out at a claimed 120km/h. 

Mahindra Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle: Engine

Under the hood, the Mahindra armoured vehicle receives a 3.2-litre multi-fuel diesel engine with a 4x4 drivetrain and front/rear differential locks. The power output is rated at 212bhp. Fitted with automatic transmission, the ALSV can accelerate from 0 to 60km/h in 12 seconds. 

Mahindra All Terrain Vehicle

Meanwhile, the all-terrain vehicle offers a ground clearance of 318mm and a cargo volume of 226.8 litres. The maximum payload they can carry is 680.4 kilograms in all terrain. Powering the vehicle is an 875cc, 4-stroke, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. Also, this vehicle can be used for carrying supplies, ammunition, and replenishments as well as ferrying quick reaction teams and small teams.

Also Read: XUV700, Scorpio, Bolero, and More Help Mahindra Register 19% YoY Sales Growth in August

In July this year, the Indian army placed an order for 1,850 units of the Mahindra Scorpio Classic SUV. As of now, the Indian Army possesses a large fleet of 4x4 vehicles, which includes vehicles like the Maruti Gipsy, Tata Safari Storme (GS800), Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Xenon pickup, and the newly added Toyota Hilux pickup.