This year’s military transport budget allocates Rs 6,717 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 4,038 crore for capital expenditure
By Vikas Gupta
Defence News of India, 18 Jul 23
Ashok Leyland, India’s flagship Hinduja Group and the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian army, announced on Monday that it has won major orders for defense vehicles worth INR 800 crore.
Contracts awarded to Ashok Leyland include the production of “Field Artillery Tractors” (FAT 4×4) and “Gun Towing Vehicles” (GTV 6×6).
The FAT 4×4 and GTV 6×6 are specialized vehicles used by the artillery to tow light and medium guns respectively.
These two platforms featured prominently in the first “Positive Indigenization List” that the government promulgated in August 2020.
This was followed in May 2021 by a second positive indigenization list, comprising 108 items; then a third indigenization list of 101 elements in April 2022.
Ashok Leyland vehicles, in particular the 7.5 ton Stallion, have been the backbone of the army’s logistics supply chain since the Kargil conflict in 1999. They are manufactured for the army in a chain dedicated production facility at Ordnance Factory Jabalpur.
The military transport budget component allocates Rs 6,717 crore this year for revenue expenditure. In addition, the budget provides Rs 4,038 crore for capital expenditure.
“We are extremely proud to have secured these orders from the Indian Army. The defense business has been a strong pillar of growth for us, and this win…shows our strong commitment to delivering advanced mobility solutions for our armed forces,” said Ashok Leyland CEO Shenu Agarwal.
“We have been a leading example of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by developing mobility platforms ranging from 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, 10×10 and 12×12 for various applications and operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. These platforms are designed, developed and manufactured locally by Ashok Leyland and contribute significantly to import substitution.
