The Defence Ministry on Tuesday signed a Rs1,561-crore contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL) based at Avadi in Chennai, to equip the Indian Army with 47 T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLT) for the faster movement of mechanised forces in the battle zone. The move boosts the self-reliance drive in the defence manufacturing sector.
BLT is a critical equipment used for launching bridges during offensive and defensive operations by the army’s mechanised forces.
“It provides integral bridging capability to the tank, enhancing battlefield mobility and offensive capability. The present case being under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category will give impetus to the Make-in-India initiative in defence,” the statement reads.
The Ministry stated that the project would play a crucial role in bolstering the national economy and creating new employment opportunities across the country. It also underscores the Heavy Vehicles Factory’s (HVF) expertise in producing advanced defence equipment tailored to the evolving operational needs of the Indian Army.
The deployment of these Bridge Layer Tanks (BLTs) is expected to significantly enhance the Army’s combat readiness and operational mobility in critical battlefield scenarios.
The Heavy Vehicles Factory has a legacy of manufacturing state-of-the-art armoured vehicles for India’s defence forces. The latest contract expands HVF’s impressive portfolio and reaffirms its status as a cornerstone of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Team BharatShakti
