By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: India will soon buy 36 high mobility vehicles of 70-ton capacity for transporting its battle tanks, in a bid to get its mobilisation time minimised for warfare deployment at the borders, primarily aimed at Pakistan.

The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek responses from High Mobility Vehicle manufacturers for the 8×8 Prime Mover for Trailer to transport the battle tanks.

The vehicle will be used for transportation of Trailer 70-Ton Tank Transporter loaded with medium, heavy tanks weighing up to 70 tons on metalled roads and tracks.

The vehicle will be provided with 8×8 drive and be capable of operating as a General Service High Mobility load carrier with payload capacity of not less than 12-tons in plains, deserts and cross country conditions prevalent in the country within a temperature range of zero-degree Celsius to 45-degree Celsius.

The platform should facilitate modification for other uses including troop carriage, containerisation and for specialist roles.

The vehicle should employ contemporary technology in all its systems to deliver optimum performance and reliability.

The overall dimensions and weight of the vehicle should allow it to go across abridge classification of Class-70R of IRC:6-2014 when towing a trailer loaded with payload of 70 ton.

The vehicle should have a facility for easy and quick conversion to flat bed configuration by removal of side walls, super structure and tail board. The vehicle should have locking arrangements for container transportation.