Tata Motors is likely to receive a new order from the Indian Army for the purchase of 619 new high mobility trucks valued at approximately Rs 350 crore.
The new order would be in addition to the previous order for 1, 239 trucks costing Rs 940 crore, The Economic Times reported. The combined order of about Rs 1,300 crore would be single largest military contract won by an Indian manufacturer.
A 6X6 high mobility vehicle is needed for various purposes such as transporting the servicemen and materials and being platform for multi-barrel rocket launchers. The trucks are designed for extreme missions, including carry heavy weaponry load from the deserts of Rajasthan to icy terrains in Ladakh.
"We are confident that the vehicles have more than met the requirements of the Indian Army. We are also in the process of increasing the indigenous content on the trucks, including the loading crane that will soon be made entirely in India," Vernon Noronha, Vice President, Defence and Government Business, Tata Motors told the business daily.
He also added that Tata has already exported the trucks to various other countries, including Israel and France, which are developing missiles for the Indian Army. Reportedly, the truck is expected to be a platform for future short surface-to-air missiles, multi-barrel rocket launchers and low-level quick reaction missiles.
Tata Motors is the largest manufacturer in Indian automotive industry. The company on Monday announced that it had appointed Airbus COO Guenter Butschek as its Chief Executive officer and Managing Director for India Operations.
