More M4 Armoured Vehicles With Spike Missiles To Be Provided To The Army

27 Oct 2022

Bharat Forge and Paramount Group, a leading worldwide aerospace and technology business, collaborated on projects and shared intellectual property (IP) for their respective vehicles.

Mr. Ichikowitz claimed that the M4 was entirely made in India. According to him, Kalyani completely recreated it in India using roughly 95% local materials.

Bharat Forge Limited is planning to provide another 30 vehicles while also exploring export opportunities. The company has already given the Army 60 of its M4 armoured vehicles, some of which have been deployed in eastern Ladakh since the stalemate. According to business executives, the Army requested the inclusion of Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) to the M4, and plans are currently underway to replace the present 30mm rifle with a 76mm gun.

“To date, we have given the Indian Army 60 M4s, some of which were dispatched on United Nations Peacekeeping missions. We are seeking a second order of 30 automobiles and anticipate more purchases. At DefExpo-2022, which was hosted in Gandhinagar last week, a company representative mentioned that orders were also flowing in from abroad. The official said, “This will turn become the primary troop carrier in hostile areas.”

Bharat Forge is increasing production capacity to 100 automobiles annually in anticipation of increased demand. According to corporate officials, there were a number of inquiries from overseas delegations during the DefExpo.

The Army were on the prowl for troop-carrying vehicles in 2020 as the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh got underway. They looked at different vehicles produced by Indian firms and appraised them for greater mobility and protection in high-altitude places. Since then, the Army has ordered shielded troop carriers from Tata Group and Bharat Forge.

Bharat Forge and Paramount Group, a leading worldwide aerospace and technology business, collaborated on projects and shared intellectual property (IP) for their respective vehicles. Ivor Ichikowitz, the founder of Paramount Group, stated during DefExpo that they were considering making India one of their main partners. “We worked with the Kalyani Group to develop a number of solutions for the global community. We invested here because we think India has the potential to rank among the top exporters of defence goods, the man added.

In this regard, Mr. Ichikowitz stated that he thought a third of their sourcing might be done from India given that their current order book is close to $1 billion.

Mr. Ichikowitz claimed that the M4 was entirely made in India. According to him, Kalyani completely recreated it in India using roughly 95% local materials. He continued, “It is not just a chance for Indian troops but also export,” after claiming that the M4 specification for India was the most cutting-edge version currently on the market. For a portfolio of M4 orders from Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, we are working with Kalyani.

According to Bharat Forge, the “Kalyani M4” is a quick reaction fighting vehicle created to fulfil the unique needs of the armed services for swift movement in difficult terrain and in locations where mine and IED threats are present. It has the capacity to transport an infantry platoon outfitted for battle.

To provide its Kalyani M4 mine protection vehicles to the Army, Bharat Forge stated in February 2021 that it has obtained an order from the Defence Ministry under emergency procurement in the amount of 117.95 crore. According to sources in the Army, the contract covered 27 trucks. Since then, the Army has ordered more of these vehicles.

Courtesy Defence Aviation