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Indian giant Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and UK
based BAE Systems, did just that and the new born
was named Defence Land Systems India. It has been
developed specifically t o meet the needs of the
Indian armed and paramilitary forces.
Approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion
Board of the Government of India (GoI), the parent
companies' initial investment will be US$21.25
million over a three year period. The company’s
equity split will be 74% Mahindra and 26% BAE
Systems, in accordance with the current defence
sector Foreign Direct Investment regulations of
the Government of India.
Brig (Retd) K A Hai, Chief Executive, Mahindra
Defence Systems, told India Strategic
that the joint venture could bid for potential
contracts of $4 billion in five to seven years
to supply defense vehicles and artillery guns
to the Indian armed forces.
Trials for the howitzer are expected to start
by the end of this month. He said the joint venture
could bid for potential contracts of $4 billion
in five to seven years to supply defense vehicles
and artillery guns to the Indian armed forces.
Andrew Gallagher, President, BAE Systems India
said, "We are extremely proud to unveil the joint
venture's very first product which has been tailor
made for the Indian armed forces. The MPVI is
based on BAE Systems' three decades of protection
experience that resulted in the highly successful
RG 31 which has a proven track record and is currently
in service with US, Canadian, UAE and a number
of other forces including the United Nations."
Speaking to India Strategic he observed, “This
is not about filling factories. It is about creating
new capabilities and we are committed to the transparency
requirements of the Government of India. We are
confident in our partner, in the products that
we offer and that we will be able to work as per
the system here.
” Brig Hai after unveiling the vehicle said,
“An intense amount of interest has been shown
on the MPVI by the home ministry and they might
probably be wanting to procure it for CRPF. The
state police forces have also made queries about
this all terrain , 265 HP with a very high torque,
18 seater, 14 ton combat vehicle.”
“ India has successfully blast tested the MPVI
last week. Designed to save the lives of our defence
forces when they encounter mines and roadside
bomb attacks, the Mine Protected Vehicle India
will be our first new product offering from the
joint venture company. Using technology proven
in BAE Systems' RG series of vehicles and Mahindra's
expert knowledge of Indian requirements and conditions,
we are proud to provide the Indian defence sector
with advanced yet affordable technology," he added.
Marksman , India's first armoured capsule based
light bullet proof vehicle was also displayed.
It is designed to provide protection to Para Military
and Police forces against small arms fire and
under belly grenade attacksand can be used in
counter terrorist and anti Naxal operations as
well as in more conventional roles such as armed
reconnaissance and convoy protection.
Another important exhibit was Up Armoured Scorpio
. This 'discreetly protected' Scorpio is ideal
for VIP protection as it offers both security
and comfort. The Up-Armoured Scorpio is already
being used by the Indian Armed Forces and other
Security Forces of India as well as by foreign
countries for VIP protection.
Mahindra Axe – The Mahindra Axe Fast Attack Vehicle
(FAV) is a lightweight, high mobility, high payload
combat vehicle, designed for use by Special Forces
and for varied operational requirements. It is
an advanced technology vehicle with all wheels
independent suspension giving high battlefield
mobility to the Special Forces for surgical strikes.
Anand Mahindra , Vice President Mahindra&Mahindra
said, “ We are extremely proud to be marketing
the Bofors gun in India. The gun was innocent
and served us well.”
Two of the world’s most powerful howitzers FH77
B05 towed howitzer, and M777 ultralight howitzer
are both proud exhibits of BAE Systems . The BAE
Systems FH77 B05 is bidding for the Indian Army
requirement for towed 52 calibre 155mm howitzersAn
upgraded howitzer, the FH77 B05, has all-round
greater performance, including increased range
over the 39 calibre FH77 B02 that is in service
with the Indian Army and which performed admirably
during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.
Defence Land Systems India will be headquartered
in New Delhi with manufacturing at a purpose built
facility South of Faridabad, just outside of Delhi.
Initially there will be about 100 employees and
existing projects include the Axe high mobility
vehicle as well as uparmored and bulletproof Scorpios,
Boleros, Rakshak, Rapid Intervention Vehicles
and the Marksman light armored vehicle. A key
project is the development of a mine protected
vehicle specifically designed to meet the needs
of the Indian armed and paramilitary forces.
Deepak Chhibba and Arne Berglund have been appointed
Defence Land Systems India’s CEO and Deputy CEO
respectively. Deepak Chhibba was earlier EVP International
Operations Mahindra & Mahindra and has over 32
years industrial experience. The newly appointed
Deputy CEO, Arne Berglund, was previously a director
at BAE Systems, Global Combat Systems, in the
UK. Arne and has also worked in Singapore, Canada,
Sweden and the United States with various BAE
Systems and other joint venture companies. And
the baby seems to be in competent hands.
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