Tata Motors sets aside land for combat vehicles in Karnataka

[David James]

Tata Motors sets aside land for combat vehicles in Karnataka


Mumbai, Aug. 27:

Tata Motors has set aside 16 acres exclusively for its Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) project at Dharwad, Karnataka.

The combat vehicles, leveraged from the strength in design and development of a wide range of commercial vehicles, has enabled the company to cover the entire defence mobility spectrum.

The new unit is to have a capacity of 200 vehicles a year.

The company is to invest around Rs 600 crore for the development of the combat vehicles and to set up the manufacturing plant.

“Though a lot of work has already gone into developmental activities for the FICV at Pune, we are hopeful to commence project development at our Dharwad facility soon.

“We have dedicated funds for the FICV project,” said a spokesperson of Tata Motors.

Revenue from the defence business was about Rs 1,000 crore in 2011-12, up 50 per cent over the last year.

Tata Motors is looking at 25-35 per cent growth in the current fiscal.

The knowledge and experience gained through the developmental projects has inspired Tata Motors to become a full-fledged Defence OEM in Land Systems with ‘System and System Integration’ (SOSI) capability.

“This was one of the reasons for Tata Motors to bid for the FICV project.

“We are one among four companies to have received expression of interest (EOI) to supply around 2,000 units of indigenous infantry combat vehicles,” the official added.

With defence requirements on the rise in several States, especially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, MP and Maharashtra, the need for armoured vehicles by the CRPF and other Central paramilitary forces has also precipitated.

Demand from J&K and North Eastern States has also increased.

Tata Motors is striving to serve the need through the supply of Light Armoured Troop Carriers, Light Bullet Proof Vehicles and Mine Protected Vehicles.

Tata Motors current market share in the wheeled military segment is approximately 40 per cent, and in the internal security is 75 per cent.

“We work very closely with the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) on the potential needs of the forces,” said the spokesperson.

The company is also in the exploratory stage of entering the West Asian market for its defence vehicles.


Business Line : Companies News : Tata Motors sets aside land for combat vehicles in Karnataka

 

[Abingdonboy]

Cool, F-ICV is going to be a landmark moement in India's military industrial history. But 200/year sounds good but when there is a 2000+ demand from IA then that is 10+ years to complete delivery which isn't good at all.

 

[AnkurPandey]

Great news ... but i was wondering why this glass thing along the wheels ? Is it just for the show-piece or will be for real ... if real then whats its advantage ?

 

[David James]

Cool, F-ICV is going to be a landmark moement in India's military industrial history. But 200/year sounds good but when there is a 2000+ demand from IA then that is 10+ years to complete delivery which isn't good at all.

Friend, you must be aware of the fact that govt. is taking no chances and going like the USA as they have Boeing + Lockheed Martin.

Indian govt. will divide the contract into 2 companies, so that we don't have any problem of any kind and a backup and faster induction on time.

But this is not a winner-take-all competition. Since the MoD wants to retain two production lines, the winner will be given 65-70% of the order; the runner-up will build 30-35% of the army’s requirement of FICVs, provided that company agrees to build the winning design at the same cost as the winner.

With two assembly lines operating, India’s private defence players expect that the FICV contract will create an eco-system of suppliers extending far beyond the winner of the contract. Brig Khutab Hai, who heads the Mahindra Group’s defence business, says, “The FICV project will be a huge boost to the Indian defence industry in R&D, manufacture, and in developing Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers from the small and medium sector industries.”

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2010/08/indian-industry-at-landmark-defence.html

 

[Skull and Bones]

200 per year sounds too good to be true, more production lines can be set up if the orders are big.

 

[David James]

200 per year sounds too good to be true, more production lines can be set up if the orders are big.

2 separate companies will be manufacturing these FICVs simultaneously. Having two production lines is a great idea.

 

[OrionHunter]

 

[Riteon]

oooh nice............but jsut 200 a year...thats too less !!!

 

[samr23]

I think defence ministry is simply wasting time. The project should be given to L&T and tata. I really doubt mahindra is capable enough to handle this project.

 

[Abingdonboy]

2 separate companies will be manufacturing these FICVs simultaneously. Having two production lines is a great idea.

Friend, you must be aware of the fact that govt. is taking no chances and going like the USA as they have Boeing + Lockheed Martin.

Indian govt. will divide the contract into 2 companies, so that we don't have any problem of any kind and a backup and faster induc
tion on time.

Mate I think there will be two different assembly lines but NOT two different manufacturers- that makes no sense! There will be competitive trails where the companies go up against one another and the best machines will be awarded the deal (so one company) having 2 companies win and produce a product is not only pointless in the sense you are selecting the winner and the runner-up but also expensive and impractical because you will have two different designs so the lack of commonality will double training costs, maintenance costs, logistics, spares etc

 

[chairborne ranger]

i want to see the specs on both the designs...also if most of this is imported stuff, then why is it gonna take so much time to get the prototypes up and running?

can someone update us about what we know about the ficv proposals of either vendors? ..also isnt drdo being consulted to provide a higher level of indegenization, since they have developed a lot of tech for the abhay ifv?

 

[Abingdonboy]

i want to see the specs on both the designs...also if most of this is imported stuff, then why is it gonna take so much time to get the prototypes up and running?

can someone update us about what we know about the ficv proposals of either vendors? ..also isnt drdo being consulted to provide a higher level of indegenization, since they have developed a lot of tech for the abhay ifv?

The F-ICV is being kept pretty hush-hush right now. Certain tech will be imported but a lot of the sytem will be made by the compaines concerned as well as all the integration.

 

[Riteon]

I think defence ministry is simply wasting time. The project should be given to L&T and tata. I really doubt mahindra is capable enough to handle this project.

Why not, with foreign acquistion mahindra has acquired a variety of tech and they vehicle they produced so far are damn sturdy...scorpio is good example.................maybe they might pull out a new scorpio out of this deal too

 

[chairborne ranger]

Mate I think there will be two different assembly lines but NOT two different manufacturers- that makes no sense! There will be competitive trails where the companies go up against one another and the best machines will be awarded the deal (so one company) having 2 companies win and produce a product is not only pointless in the sense you are selecting the winner and the runner-up but also expensive and impractical because you will have two different designs so the lack of commonality will double training costs, maintenance costs, logistics, spares etc

It wont work the way u're thinking about it. The company winning the competition gets about 70% of the order for its design. It ALSO has to share its tech and allow the other company to produce the remaining 30% simultaneously. The other company too produces its rival's vehicle (at the same cost i.e. or a new alternative is looked at )

 

[chairborne ranger]

my personal wishlist for the ficv would be

1] option for add of ERA
2] a good hardkill aps
3] a decent amount of ATGM storage/firing capability
4] fully amphibious
5] an AGL , and a decent anti apc cannon (a fast firing anti personnel weapon wouldnt be too bad either)
6] a top speed of around 70-80 km/hr