India orders Kalyani M4 armored vehicles under emergency program

The Kalyani M4 4x4 armored vehicle. Photo c/o Kalyani Group.

 

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) has ordered an unspecified number of Kalyani M4 4x4 armored vehicles from Indian company Bharat Forge in a deal worth INR1.78 billion (US$24.6 million).

This was announced by Bharat Forge on 23 February 2021, following the signing of an agreement with South African defense company Paramount Group during the second day of the International Defence Expo (IDEX) 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The vehicles were said to have been ordered under the Indian MOD’s emergency procurement program for the Indian Army, and is related to the standoff with China in the Himalayan common borders.

The number of vehicles ordered are expected to be few, but the Indian Army is said to be eyeing a total of 200 vehicles

The Kalyani M4 is an Indian derivative of the Paramount Group’s Mbombe 4 4x4 wheeled mine resistant, ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle, with Indian-specified modifications and will be built locally under license by Bharat Forge as part of the Indian government’s “Make-in-India” self-reliance program.

The Kalyani M4 is a multi-role platform, with ballistic and blast protection from up to 50 kilograms of TNT side blast, or IED and roadside bombs. It has a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour, an operating range of 800 kilometers, and a payload capacity of up to 2.3 tons.

The vehicle was said to have undergone a period of testing in Ladakh region in India, which the vehicles are expected to be deployed once in service with the Indian Army.

This would allow protected and quick deployment of troops in high altitudes and rough terrain




[1] The Print
[2] The Eurasian Times
[3] Economic Times India