Indian Army issues RFI for armoured recovery vehicles

The ARV procurement programme aims to replace Indian Army's in-service WZT-3 ARVs, pictured above. (Zaklady Mechaniczne Bumar-Labedy SA)

The Indian Army issued a request for information (RFI) on 5 September to procure 170 armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) based on a tracked platform.

According to the RFI, the ARV will be used for cross-country (offroad) operations in plain, semi-desert, and desert terrains along India's western borders, as well as high-altitude (up to 5000 m)/mountainous terrain along India's northern borders (eastern Ladakh/Central Sector/North Sikkim).

The proposed ARV should possess adequate cross-country mobility and protection and the capability to carry at least six soldiers including the driver and commander, the RFI said.

The gross vehicle weight should be less than 50 tonnes and the ARV must be equipped with a diesel fuel-based engine mounted with low thermal and acoustic signature, the RFI added.

The vehicle must have a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) with in-service 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun and smoke grenade launcher, according to the RFI.

The ARV should provide STANAG 4569 Level IV protection in the front, STANAG 4569 Level III protection on the sides, and STANAG 4569 Level II protection on the top, bottom, and rear.

The new ARVs will replace the in-service WZT-3 ARV, which is based on the lower half of the T-72M1 main battle tank (MBT) but has a new upper hull with a dozer/stabiliser blade at the front, winches, and a hydraulic crane pivoted at the front left.

The Indian Army has 164 in-service WZT-3 ARVs.