(Editor’s Note: The first two paragraphs have been amended to reflect that it is not a final award, but initial sanction for an industry-funded project, and that several other companies too have got the sanction apart from OshoCorp Global.)

New Delhi: India has sanctioned a $180-million project to several domestic private sector companies to develop and supply auxiliary power units to act as an alternative source to power its army’s key main battle tanks.

OshoCorp Global Private Limited, a city-based company incorporated in 2015, too has bagged the sanction order for the project, likely to be worth Rs 1,325 crore (nearly $180 million), to develop and supply the Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for the T-72 ‘Ajeya’ and T-90 ‘Bhisma’ main battle tanks, which are the mainstay of the Indian Army‘s Mechanised Forces.

The sanction order for the APUs project was issued to OshoCorp Global after nearly four years of selection process under the Defence Procurement Procedure‘s industry-funded ‘Make II‘ category, according to a statement from the private limited company.

The APU is an alternative source of power for the Fire Control System of the battle tanks and ancillaries, to cater for power requirements, while deployed in surveillance mode during a lull in battle, and during training, with a view to conserve the life of main engine of the tank, explained OshoCorp Global’s chief executive officer Ashutosh Khate.

“Initially, we are required to develop four APUs – two each for the T-72 and T-90 tanks – for trials. Once approved, we have to subsequently produce 3,257 APUs for both the battle tanks,” Khate said.

“The project will help our country towards self-reliance in APU manufacturing technology for tanks and fulfill the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

The present project has huge potential to generate future domestic and export business, which can be many times more than the current procurement of APUs, said OshoCorp Global’s head of special projects Colonel P. K. Juneja.

“APUs are a continuous requirement keeping in mind the present inventory of T-72, T-90, Arjun tank and BMPs (Infantry Combat Vehicles) held by our armed forces and expected new tank supplies in coming years,” Juneja said.

“In the export market, the countries using Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks can benefit by procuring India-developed APUs for their battle tanks.”

NOTE: OshoCorp Global Private Limited is an Indian aerospace and defence start-up with ISO 9001:2015 certification, having NCAGE No. 1691Y (NATO). The company is in receipt of multiple defence industrial licenses from the Government of India for manufacturing restricted and sensitive defence systems, weapon platforms and ammunition, including Auxiliary Power Units and environmental control units for battle tanks.

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