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 Mahindra, the large Indian vehicle
manufacturer unveiled its Striker lightweight high mobility combat
vehicle, designed for armed reconnaissance and mounted patrols.
The vehicle was displayed mounting four Milan missiles and a
7.62 mm machine gun. Mahindra also exhibited the Rakshak Plus, a
protected vehicle designed for rapid reaction teams, mounted
patrols and transportation of commanders and VIP. Rakshak Plus
utilizes interchangeable armor protection plates designed to stop
multiple 7.62mm hits.
 The protection suite consisting of hardened
steel, high performance polyethylene and aramid laminates and
bullet proof glass. The protection suite was designed by
Plasan
Sasa.
Mine protected vehicles are currently
deployed by units of the Indian security forces, and positive
experience with initial systems indicated that more of these vehicles
should be used. Several exhibitors at DEFEXPO included mine
protected vehicles in their displays. Indian Ordnance Factories
brought the real thing – an armored troop carrier, fully protected
against heavy mine blasts under the tires and hull, besides being
immune to
small arms fire. To add to the crew protection, the vehicle is
also equipped with a
 multi-purpose remote control weapon station,
developed by RAFAEL. The station enables observation, target
acquisition and firing from within the protected vehicle, and
accommodates a 0.5 cal heavy machine gun, 7.62 MG or automatic
grenade launcher, and has options for stabilization and slave
modes. Similar systems were also presented by foreign companies,
including Alvis OMC of South Africa which have sold such systems
to India in the past. Mahindra plans to introduce its own version
for a mine protected vehicle – and is negotiating the local
production of the Israeli
RAM 2000 mine protected armored vehicle.
Another vehicle displayed by Mahindra is the Mobile
Multi-sensor Surveillance System (MMSS), developed under
cooperation between Mahindra, IAI/Elta and Esc Baz of Israel. The
system is designed to operate as unattended ground sensor,
transmitting surveillance data and images back to a regional
command and control center. The vehicle can be equipped with a
wide range of sensors, including the IAI/Elta integrated
multi-sensor payload, utilizing the
POP stabilized EO payload
containing a color CCD, cooled thermal imager and a laser
rangefinder package, the EL/M-2129 ground surveillance radar (or
similar derivatives, locally built in India) and the Comet
electronic compass. Another option is the Controp CEDAR IR
automatic intruder detection system. Cedar was recently selected
for the protection of the Olympic park in Athens, during the 2004
Olympics. Another low cost solution was also provided by Esc Baz
from Israel, integrating a remotely controlled color day camera
and uncooled thermal camera with a laser pointing device. Esc Baz
officials at Defexpo told Defense Update that similar systems are
already used for the protection of elements along the Israeli buffer
zone and security perimeters around some isolated civilian settlements. |
