One of the major weaknesses that the Indian Army currently suffers from in their equipment profile is the lack of availability of a suitable HMMWV, for the plethora of vital functions which have to be performed on the battlefield

Known by its military designation as the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, the HMMWV is defined as a lightweight, highly mobile, dieselpowered, four/six-wheel-drive tactical vehicle that uses a common chassis to carry a wide variety of military hardware ranging from machine guns to anti-tank missiles, grenade launchers air defence missiles. It must perform in a wide variety of terrain, from deserts to jungles, for long periods of time and with minimal maintenance. It has to carry its cargo and occupants in safety while dodging instruments of war—bullets, bombs and mines.

Indian Army

One of the major weaknesses that the Indian Army currently suffers from in their equipment profile is the lack of availability of a suitable HMMWV, for the plethora of vital functions which have to be performed on the battlefield. At present these functions are performed by unarmoured light wheeled vehicles which have an open configuration and a canvas covering. They offer no protection even against small arms fire and their mobility off the roads is also poor. The current vehicles do not have the requisite mobility, firepower and protection to survive on the battlefield in any type of terrain. They are also not designed as weapon platforms or for carriage of communication equipment.

Some anti-mine vehicles have been procured for formations and units including Rashtriya Rifles functioning in insurgency areas. However, these vehicles do not cover all types of tasks and missions that have to be performed in conventional conflicts or in low intensity conflicts like the counter-insurgency environment existing in Jammu and Kashmir and in the Northeast.

Indian Army requires a common platform for a HMMWV which could fulfill the role of all battlefield functions in conventional and asymmetric conflicts.

Battlefield functions for HMMWV

All formations and units of the army would be interested in a common platform of HMMWV which could fulfill most of their missions/tasks. The Indian Navy and the IAF too would be interested in the vehicle in different configurations. Some of the functions for such vehicles are listed below:

• Command and control vehicles which would be fitted with radio sets and high power antennas and would be used by commanders and staff officers for radio communications and for liaison duties.
• Reconnaissance and surveillance vehicles which may be fitted with various types of sensors for route, terrain and enemy reconnaissance and surveillance.
• Weapon carriers fitted with light and medium machine guns, up to 30 mm cannons and anti tank missiles.
• Mortar carriers.
• Ambulance vehicles.
• Carriage of rapid reaction teams of Special Forces or infantry/engineer reconnaissance teams.
• Patrolling of roads/tracks and operational sectors.
• NBC reconnaissance.
• Weapon carriers such as air defence vehicle by fitting a turret for firing air defence missiles or guns.
• Carrier of small arms ammunition
• Could be modified as a light recovery vehicle.
• Carriage of forward observation officers, Air Control Team and tentacle and their communication equipment.
• Air portability for airborne and helicopter borne operations.