VRDE launches two armoured vehicles

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Mar 4: The Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) here, has developed two armoured vehicles that will be soon introduced in the Indian Army.

VRDE has indigenously developed Armoured Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV), Armoured Amphibious Dozer (AAD) and the NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle in association with the Bharat Electronics Pune and Ordinance Factory at Medak, VRDE said in a release issued here today.

The AERV and AAD has been designed to provide engineering support in both offensive and defensive operations in plains, deserts and reverine terrain. The AERV is equipped with a range of advanced survey instruments to carry out terrestrial and river bed survey to facilitate construction of assault bridges across water obstacles and a number of other engineering tasks.

The AAD is capable of providing integral engineering support to battle groups in offensive operations for construction of assault bridges and for construction of tracks, to enable unhindered advance of mechanised columns through obstacle ridden terrain. The NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle is designed to diagnose the existence of life endangering nuclear, biological and chemical contaminants in the atmosphere and cordoning of such areas for remedial actions in the event of the NBC attack by the enemy.

All the equipment are based on tracked BMP 2 amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle, which allow operation on land and water with equal efficacy. The onboard equipment in each of these vehicles can be operated by the crew in hatch down condition from within the confines of the armour protected vehicles.

The Ordinance Factory at Medak have been entrusted with the responsibility of production of these vehicles in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited, Pune. The AERV are already under limited series production and have entered service with the Corps of Engineers recently.

Two new AERVs from the second production order placed by the Army were flagged off on their way to a fighting formation of the Army, by the Engineer in Chief of Indian Army, Lt Gen R R Goswamy, at a function held here last evening.

The demonstration of floatation and earth moving capabilities of the newly developed AAD and the capabilities of NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle were demonstrated to the visiting Engineer in Chief, in the district on the same day.

R Shankar, Director Combat Vehicles and Engineering and Maj Gen Umang Kapoor VSM, Director Centre for Technology Extension and Cooperation (C-TEC) were also present at this DRDO and Army interaction organised at VRDE in Ahmednagar.

C-TEC is the agency at HQ DRDO level which provides the interface between the Services, DRDO and the production agencies in all matters related to technology transfer and production of DRDO products.

Speaking on the occasion, VRDE Director Dr C L Dhamejani reiterated the commitment of the lab towards equipping the armed forces with war worthy equipment meeting their operational requirements.

UNI