Indian Army Picks L&T–BAE to Produce All-Terrain Armoured Vehicles

The Indian Army is set to expand its fleet of high-mobility military vehicles by awarding contracts to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and BAE Systems to produce the BvS10 Sindhu. This advanced all-terrain armoured vehicle will be manufactured at L&T’s Hazira facilities under a licensed manufacturing agreement, as stated in a regulatory filing by the company on Wednesday.

The agreement allows L&T to assemble the vehicle at its Hazira Armoured Systems Complex while utilising the technical expertise of BAE Systems Hägglunds, the Swedish company responsible for the original BvS10 design. In addition to vehicle production, the Army will receive an integrated support package that includes assistance for early deployment, maintenance, and long-term sustainment.

Vehicle Customised for India’s Diverse Operating Theatres

The BvS10 Sindhu is a specialised version of the BvS10 platform, engineered to meet India’s operational demands from the icy heights of the northern frontiers to desert stretches, marshy river basins and coastal zones. The vehicle successfully passed a wide range of evaluation trials, including tests at high altitude and extreme hot-weather terrain, showcasing its ability to function where wheeled or tracked vehicles typically struggle.

Tommy Gustafsson Rask, who leads BAE Systems Hägglunds, said the platform’s performance in severe climates made it a strong fit for India’s requirements. He noted that the project advances BAE Systems’ long-term commitment to local production and technology transfer, in keeping with the government’s Make in India framework.

Boost to Mobility and India’s Defence Industrial Base

The Indian Army expects the new fleet to enhance mobility in operational areas where terrain often dictates the pace of deployment. The BvS10 Sindhu can move personnel, weapons and equipment across obstacles that would usually halt conventional vehicles, giving commanders more flexibility in both offensive and support operations.

L&T said the award demonstrates India’s confidence in its ability to deliver complex defence systems. Arun Ramchandani, who heads the company’s defence manufacturing division, described the contract as an important moment for India’s growing domestic industrial capacity, backed by a proven international vehicle platform.

Officials view the L&T–BAE Systems collaboration as a blueprint for future joint programmes, combining global expertise with Indian manufacturing resilience. Darren Restarick, who oversees regional operations for BAE Systems Hägglunds, said the contract opens the door for further cooperation and marks the first entry of the BvS10 family into the Asian market.

The BvS10’s articulated two-carriage structure gives it exceptional traction and stability, enabling it to move over snowfields, rocky slopes, mud flats, sandy terrain, wetlands, and flooded ground. Its amphibious capability allows it to ford water obstacles and operate in littoral zones, expanding its utility for both military and humanitarian missions.
The vehicle can be configured for a wide range of tasks, including: Troop movement; Command and control; Medical evacuation; Repair and recovery; Logistics and resupply; Surveillance and situational awareness; and Armed support roles.

Several European armies already field variants of the BvS10, including those of Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Germany is also in the process of inducting the platform. India’s entry adds another major military to the system’s user base.

Team BharatShakti