SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant development for India’s defense procurement strategy, the Indian Army has recommended that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) abandon plans to procure Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) from the United States, following disappointing trial results. Instead, the Army is throwing its weight behind an improved indigenous variant of the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8, known as the Advanced Armoured Platform (AAP) Wheeled, developed collaboratively by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private sector partners.
The Stryker, an 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, was initially considered for induction into the Indian Army through a government-to-government (G2G) deal with the United States. However, trials conducted in high-altitude terrains, such as those in Ladakh, revealed significant shortcomings. Powered by a Caterpillar C7 360 hp engine, the Stryker struggled with underperformance in mountainous regions, a critical operational requirement for India given its border disputes with Pakistan and China. Reports from February 2025 highlighted the vehicle’s inability to meet the Army’s expectations, with sources noting its logistical simplicity—designed for U.S. expeditionary warfare—did not translate well to India’s diverse and rugged combat environments.
The Indian Army’s rigorous evaluation process exposed the Stryker’s limitations, prompting criticism from defense analysts where users expressed frustration over the MoD’s initial interest in the foreign platform despite its failures. This sentiment echoes a broader push for indigenous solutions, as the Stryker procurement would have funneled funds to American contractors while offering inferior battlefield utility compared to homegrown alternatives.
In contrast, the DRDO, in collaboration with private sector giants like Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge, has commenced work on the AAP Wheeled variant, an upgraded iteration of the WhAP 8×8. The metal-cutting ceremony for the AAP prototypes—both wheeled and tracked—was held on April 2, 2025, at Tata’s Pune facility, marking a significant milestone in India’s defense innovation. The WhAP, already inducted in limited numbers by the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, has proven its mettle in challenging terrains, including high-altitude operations in Ladakh and amphibious warfare scenarios.
The AAP Wheeled variant builds on the WhAP’s strengths, offering modularity, scalability, and reconfigurability—attributes that make it highly adaptable for various combat roles. Designed with steel armor plates and lightweight composite armor, the platform is tailored for Indian conditions, providing superior all-terrain performance, mine blast protection, and the ability to integrate advanced weapon systems like anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Over 80% of its components are sourced locally, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.
Indian Army is set to procure 198 WhAP units under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, with Tata’s Kestrel and Mahindra’s wheeled platform as frontrunners, effectively ruling out the Stryker. The AAP’s development is a direct response to the Army’s need for a versatile, indigenous platform capable of meeting modern warfare demands, especially in the context of ongoing border tensions.
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