Big news folks, it seems finally LSV has a winner, the most unexpected - to me at least - it is Force Motors!
http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/force-motors-bags-light-strike-vehicles-indian-army-29421
The vehicles, which have been designed and developed by the company's R&D team, is claimed to have high speed and reliability. The OEM states that the LSV not only uses the proven, rugged and reliable aggregates like engines and transmissions from the Force Motors’ stable but it is also uprated for the demanding applications of the armed forces.
The company states that the LSV has proved its mettle through the rigorous prototype trials conducted by the armed forces for over two years. This involved traversing rough terrains as varied as the scorching deserts of Rajasthan (50deg Celsius) to the sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas (-30deg Celsius).
The LSV is designed for quick ingress and egress, and is capable of performing on extreme terrain, with manoeuvrability, high speed and stability, 4x4 configuration, and have differential locks on all wheels, similar to the Force Gurkha. It is also equipped with run-flat tyres and has provision to mount assault weapons like a rocket launcher and machine guns. The LSV can be airlifted and dropped into enemy territory, for use as an advance fast strike vehicle.
Speaking on the sidelines of the agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the Force Motors spokesperson said, “We are very happy that the Indian Army has reposed trust in the fully indigenous Light Strike Vehicle developed by our research and development team. This is a small but significant step in creating fully indigenous specialist vehicles for the Armed Forces – a truly ‘Make in India’ initiative”.
Force Motors says it had also supplied the Indian Artillery with new engines for the 155mm Howitzer Guns (Bofors guns), and is also working on trials for the adoption of its indigenously developed engines for the new-generation Dhanush Gun, which is expected to succeed the Bofors guns. Furthermore, the Traveller and Trax range of vehicles are already in service with most of the paramilitary organisations in the country
Disappointed that neither Tata Motors or Ashok Leyland won. The latter offered a very unconventional and innovative design. However, most important is that we have a winner, and hopefully will lead into a contract soon.
Going by the unofficial pictures available, IA has gone in for a short wheelbase and low profile jeep, pretty much a slightly larger version of the Gypsy. Cant wait to see these in 10SF hands!
That's the payload capacity which was enhanced.
