Casspir MPV

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CASSPIR MINE PROTECTED VEHICLE

In August 1998, then-incumbent Chief of Army Staff, General Ved Prakash Malik, announced that India had purchased 90 'reconditioned' Casspir mine-protected vehicles (MPVs) for the Army and Para-Military forces in Jammu & Kashmir. It is designed to protect its crew from mine blasts and is capable of being rapidly repaired in the field. Two Casspir MPVs underwent extensive mobility and ballistic evaluation in India over two months, covering over 9000 km. As part of this evaluation, one of the vehicles was put through four blast tests, involving one anti-tank mine and three improvised devices of the type typically encountered during operations in J&K. The Casspir MPV was then repaired and driven back to the evaluation centre.

Colour sketch of the Casspir MPV.
{ Image © Indian Defence Yearbook 2000 }

In April 1999, the Army acquired 90 Casspir MPVs. Powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, the vehicle has been deployed both in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East for anti-insurgency operations. These MPVs have been reassembled and refurbished by South Africa's Vickers OMC (formerly Reumech) at a cost of around Rs. 400,000 - 500,000 a piece. These 11 ton vehicles with 14-passenger capacity are better than brand news ones which cost nearly double. The deal with Vickers includes technology transfer, training and spare parts packages. SIPRI {Stockholm International Peace Research Institute} reported that an order was placed in 2000 for 75 additional, refurbished Casspir MPVs and all 75 were delivered by 2001.

The Ordnance Factory, at Medak, is also manufacturing an indigenous mine-protected vehicle. The vehicle was tested on a 15 kg RDX pile and was highly successful. Studies were conducted to reduce the noise and vibration levels. Further test trials were conducted at the DRDO centre in Chandigarh. The rectangular body made of heavy gauge but malleable steel sits on V-shaped 55º steel angle. It is fitted with bullet proof glass, so that it does not crack in the event of explosion, and the occupants inside remain safe without being hit by shrapnel. The vehicle has openings on the roof as well as sides for enabling the personnel to return the fire.

The indigenous mine-protected vehicle.

The vehicle is planned to be mass-produced in two types, a Mahindra & Mahindra jeep model with a seating capacity of six and an Ashok Leyland model with a seating capacity of 12. The cost of the vehicles are reportedly cheaper than the Casspir MPVs that are being brought from South Africa. In December 2001, India Defence Consultants {IDC} reported that 150 new landmine-resistant armoured vehicles, worth $14 million, to augment the second-hand Casspir MPVs imported from South Africa were discussed and it likely that BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) may supply these. In early November 2001 when Defence Secretary Yogendra Narain visited Moscow with Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee he discussed acquiring MPVs from Russia. Medak's Ordnance Factory has supplied MPVs to Jharkand and Hyderabad Police Forces and has versions ready for the Army at lower costs.