Visualising the Indian Army's demand for ultra light tanks, which can be transported across zones by helicopters, defence public sector undertaking BEML on Thursday announced its ambitious bid to build the same.
“BEML is considering the futuristic main battle tank that is light and can be transported by a helicopter. With our experience in building armed recovery vehicles and expertise of our international associate we want to create a team to build it,'' BEML Chairman and Managing Director V. R. S. Natarajan said here.
Addressing a press conference at the ongoing DEFEXPO-2010, he said BEML had tied up with OBRUM, a leading research and development, modernisation and production enterprise of Poland.
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the exhibition and both firms would associate in design and development of products and services in the defence field. Besides the futuristic main battle tank, the products include the armoured recovery and repair vehicle on Arjun, overhaul of T-72 and BMP-II upgrade.
As for the project for development of armoured recovery and repaired vehicle on Arjun, he said it was promoted and coordinated by CVRDE (Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment) Chennai and funded by DRDO.
BEML also tied with Slovak firm Tanax for armoured vehicles that can be deployed in anti-terrorist and anti-insurgency operations.
The Slovak firm will provide the wheeled-gun while BEML will provide the chassis. The gun will be integrated and assembled in India.
The company is also opening a new plant at Palakkad in Kerala for its aerospace division with a projected investment of Rs.260 crore.
