SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army’s initiative to procure 170 tracked Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) tailored for operations across diverse terrains, including plains, deserts, high altitudes, and mountainous regions, faces a delay, with the project now unlikely to conclude before the end of 2028.
The original plan was to design these ARVs on the chassis of the Arjun tank, leveraging its robust design for recovery operations. However, without the engine, this plan is on hold.
The primary cause of this delay is the ongoing development of the DATRAN 1500HP engine, intended for both the Arjun Mk1A MBT and the proposed ARV. The engine is still under rigorous testing and won’t be cleared for production until the end of 2028, directly impacting the ARV program.
In 2023, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore potential Indian vendors for the ARV procurement. This was part of an effort to encourage indigenous manufacturing while meeting operational needs.
The Army currently employs ARVs built by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), which utilize the chassis of the Russian T-72 tank. These vehicles have been in service for years but are not ideally suited for all the varied terrains the new ARVs are expected to cover.
With the delay in the indigenous ARV program, there’s speculation on whether the Army might pivot towards importing ARVs or partnering with companies that have foreign collaborations, especially given the proposals received from such entities during the RFI process.
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