Ashok Leyland Defence Systems unveils the COLT range of tactical vehicle

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems, a joint venture Company, engaged in the manufacture of specialized tactical and armoured vehicles, recently unveiled the first of the range of COLT tactical vehicles – the Light Tactical Vehicle (4×4) at DEFEXPO 2012, held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The Light Tactical Vehicleis being developed through the Company’s strategic partnership with Panhard General Defense, France. In addition, a new range of product concepts and systems developed with Krauss MaffeiWegmannGmbh (KMW), Germany, were also unveiled.

“India’s Defence sector is seeking greater participation from the private sector to shore up the nation’s defenses and Ashok Leyland Defence stands poised to leverage technologies and partnerships to provide tactical and armoured solutions to address our country’s defense requirements,” said Dr. V. Sumantran, Chairman, Ashok Leyland Defence Systems. “Our product range will offer state-of-the-art performance while achieving high levels of local content and cost competitiveness. Today, we are proud to unveil the COLT 4×4 Light Tactical Vehicle which offers superior protection, improved agility and enhanced performance, typical of our new range of vehicles,” he added.

COLT Light Tactical Vehicle (4×4)

ALDS - Colt platform

The COLT Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV), jointly developed by Ashok Leyland Defence and PanhardGeneral Defense, has excellent mobility owing to a power to weight ratio of over 34 horsepower per tonne. It is equipped with a high performance chassis, a unique suspension system and an innovative patented armoured hull. Essentially designed to carry out protected tactical liaison missions, the LTV can fill a large array of roles such as escort, patrol and command vehicles. The product is battle-proven and over 2,000 are deployed across 15 countries.

 

Product portfolio

Ashok Leyland Stallion 6x6 picture

Ashok Leyland Defenceis also engaged in developing range ofarmoured vehicles with military payloads ranging from 1.5 to 16 tonnes, on the COLT, STALLION and SUPER STALLION platforms that will address requirements for Light Specialist Vehicles (LSV), Light Bullet Proof Vehicle (LBPV), Light Artillery Machines (LAM), Mine Protected Vehicles (MPV), Field Artillery Tractors, Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) and other special applications. Ashok Leyland Defence offers unique capabilities in bringing state-of-the-art equipment to India with high local content and customized to suit specific needs of India’s defence forces.

 

Winning partnerships

Ashok Leyland Stallion 6x6 picture

Panhard General Defense is pioneers in the design and development of armoured vehicles and known for their VBL (VéhiculeBlindé Léger) or Light Armoured Vehicles with 1,600 to the French Army alone. They also make the PVP (Petit Vehicule Protégé) of which more than 750 are in service. Ashok Leyland Defence and Panhard have laid out a plan to address India’s evolving needs for light tactical vehicles.

Krauss-MaffeiWegmann (KMW) GmbH and Co KG, Germany KMW, one of Europe’s most sophisticated defence contractors and Ashok Leyland Defence are to jointly develop advancedsystems for the Indian Defence establishment as well as other Defence forces worldwide. This strategic partnership combines the technological bandwidth of KMW with the innovation of Ashok Leyland Defence, aimed at deriving cost advantages and expands product opportunities for Ashok Leyland Defence. KMW has a rich, 170-year history and are market leaders in the highly protected armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles. The armed forces of over 30 nations rely on their systems such as the MBT LEOPARD 2, the artillery system PzH 2000 and the armoured wheeled vehicle – DINGO 2.

Also see – Truck runs on Railway Track (Truckee Train)

2012 Auto Expo – Ashok Leyland presents India’s first 37-tonne haulage truck