Rugged cars that grace the Indian armed forces!
The Indian Army is considered to be one of the most powerful armies in the world. Therefore, the vehicles they use should match their strength and toughness. In this article, we will discuss various cars that are used by the Indian armed forces.
Maruti Gypsy
Maruti Gypsy has served the armed forces for the longest period of time. The Gypsy has been an iconic car and preferred choice of the Indian Army. The Gypsy was built to lay and conquer any terrain without breaking a sweat. The car was powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine that produced 80bhp & 103 Nm of torque. The car also had a 4×4 variant. Maruti Gypsy was manufactured for the Indian Army even after it was discontinued for civilians. The Maruti Gypsy was later replaced by Tata Safari Storme GS800.
Toyota Fortuner 4×4
The Toyota Fortuner looks quite intimidating when seen on roads. The Toyota Fortuner is so popular that it need not prove its 4×4 capabilities. The SUV is powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine that produces 175bhp & 420Nm of torque when mated to a manual gearbox. This same engine produces 450Nm of torque with an automatic transmission. The customized version of the Fortuner is used by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Army for patrolling and is equipped with radio communications. This SUV is also capable of carrying heavy weapons for the army.
Mahindra Marksman
The Mahindra Marksman was India’s first armored light bulletproof vehicle to protect against light arms fire attacks and grenade attacks. This vehicle is powered by a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that produces 120bhp & 280Nm of torque. This vehicle was also offered with a 2.6-litre diesel engine that produced 115bhp & 228Nm of torque. This car was also inducted by Mumbai Police for patrolling after the terrorist attacks of 26 November 2008.
Mahindra Scorpio
Mahindra Scorpio is an SUV that is quite popular amongst the armed forces because of its rugged looks and sturdy build. This SUV is mostly used by Army officials. The SUV gets a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that produces 120bhp & 280Nm of torque. The Mahindra Scorpio is a true all-rounder and can take any terrain effortlessly.
Mahindra Armored light specialist vehicle
The Mahindra Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV) is a light armored vehicle for use by defense forces. This vehicle is powered by a 3.2-litre diesel engine that produces 215bhp & 500Nm of torque mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with 4×4 and front & rear differential locking system.
Tata Safari Storme
Tata Safari Storme is currently discontinued for civilians but the car is still manufactured for the Indian Army. The civilian version of the Safari Storme was powered by a 2.2-litre Varicor400 diesel engine that produced 154bhp & 400Nm of torque. The SUV manufactured for the Indian Army, the Tata Safari Storme GS800 was built keeping in mind the needs of the Indian Army. The engine was tuned to produce 70% more power and 200% more torque than the regular Safari. This makes the Tata Safari Storme GS800 the most powerful Safari Storme ever made.
Tata Sumo 4×4
The Tata Sumo is equally iconic as the Maruti Gypsy when it comes to cars used by the Indian Army. The Tata Sumo 4×4 is used as a personal transport or for ambulance needs in the Indian Army as the car is spacious accommodating seven to nine passengers. The car was also comfortable for long routes. The Sumo is powered by a 3.0-litre CR4 engine that produces 83bhp & 250Nm of torque.
Tata Xenon
The Indian Army had initially placed an order for 500 Tata Xenon, the Border Security Force (BSF) got most of the units. The Xenon was specially customized for BSF with four jerry cans mounted on either side and convoy lights. The engine was also fine-tuned to perform better in harsh terrains like the desert and marshy land.
Tata Harrier
The latest addition in the Indian Army is the Tata Harrier. The National Security Guard (NSG) recently completed the 7,500kms Sudarshan Bharat Parikrama in fifteen Tata Harrier Dark edition with 47 NSG Commandos. The Harrier is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that produces 170bhp & 350Nm of torque. The engine comes with a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission.
Renault Sherpa Light
The Renault Sherpa Light is a tactical vehicle that is used by multiple defense forces in India, including National Security Guard (NSG) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This vehicle features a specially designed chassis with a high payload carrying capacity. A heavily armored version of this vehicle is also used by CRPF to conduct anti-militant operations as the vehicle can withstand explosions. This vehicle can accommodate four armed personnel that can fire from within.
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