Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)
In 2010 three teams headed by Indian largest vehicle manufacturers Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Mahindra and Mahindra are introducing Mine Protected Vehicle in anticipation of Indian Ministry of Defense procurement of hundreds of new mine protected vehicles. No orders were immediately forthcoming, and local market proepscts were further clouded in 2014 when the government decided to approach the US to purchase state-of-the-art mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, which the US forces might otherwise leave behind in Afghanistan after they pull-out of the country.
The security forces are employed in the counter-insurgency role and therefore the emphasis on modernisation of their mechanised forces is directed towards tackling insurgency. Of the three attributes of armored vehicles mobility, lethality and protection, priority is now being directed towards the latter. Protection againstblast and IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) attacks is a priority. Keeping in view their operational requirement the demand for armored vehicles has swung towards APCs (both wheeled and tracked). Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and Light Protected Vehicles (for reconnaissance and surveillance).
In March 2014 the government decided to approach the US to purchase mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, which the US forces would have in excess after they pull-out of Afghanistan. The preparations for the acquisition began through the foreign military sales route with Pentagon inclined to sell “excess defence articles” to India rather than be captured by Taliban forces after the drawdown. While South Block has asked its officials to prepare for the specifications of the MRAPs, there were five categories of some 3,800 vehicles currently in Afghanistan.
There is no common MRAP vehicle design, as there are several US vendors, each with its own vehicle; and at times with distinct protection and mobility configurations tailored to the operational environment of different theaters. Cougar or Buffalo, the 14-tonne vehicles with V-shaped hulls have minimised the US forces casualties in improvised explosive device blasts and ambush, both in Iraq and Afghanistan.
These vehicles would help in transportation of troops as well as improve patrolling on the main highways in south Chhattisgarh. This might help avoid a disaster like Sukma — where 16 paramilitary security personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh. Although the casualties in the Tongpal ambush were partly due to violation of standard operating procedures by the security forces and in spite of actionable intelligence, it was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde that troopers needed extra protection against Maoists attacks.
Nestled in the “Defense and Homeland Security Cooperation” section of the Joint Statement during the visit of Prime Minister to USA of September 30, 2014 was a declaration that “the leaders committed to pursue provision of US-made mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to India.” The indication of India’s continuing interest in acquiring US mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles came on the back of two other news reports; United Arab Emirates (UAE) requested for a possible sale of 4,569 MRAPs worth $ 2.5b and the US decision to provide 160 MRAPs to Pakistan for an estimated cost of $198 million.
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