India has launched a new acquisition effort for 159 armored troop carriers intended for the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the force responsible for counterinsurgency missions in the country’s northeastern sector.
The specialized unit was raised in the 1990s to improve security across the challenging mountainous regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh near the borders with China and Pakistan.
A request for information issued by the army outlines plans to procure around 60 vehicles per year after contract approval, local media reported. The project will be executed in line with the government’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives focused on strengthening domestic defense production capabilities.
The upcoming 4×4 protected mobility vehicles are expected to deliver a balance of survivability and maneuverability while carrying essential combat payloads such as ammunition, weapons, and communication gear. India has outlined performance requirements that include road speeds of 80–100 kilometers per hour, off-road speeds of 50–75 kilometers per hour, and operational endurance of 300 kilometers in rough terrain and 350 kilometers in plains.
The armored carriers must function effectively at elevations reaching 5,000 meters and in extreme temperatures between -10 and 40 degrees Celsius, including operations in snow-covered areas. The army also wants the vehicles equipped with firing ports and roof-mounted machine guns to provide troops with protected combat capability during missions.
