Protected Mobility Vehicles

Context

The Army has floated a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV) for high-altitude areas and for deserts and plains.

What are Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV)?

• The PMV is essentially a wheeled armoured personnel carrier. 
• It provides protection to the soldiers travelling inside the vehicle from mine blasts and sudden attacks by small arms.

Request for Information (RFI)

• The Army floated an RFI for information from vendors for PMV to deploy in areas above the height of 4000 metres and for deserts and plains.
• The detailed instructions given by the Army along with the RFI specifies that these vehicles should be wheeled, 4X4 drive mode and should have automatic transmission.
• These vehicles should be able to carry ten personnel excluding the driver and co-driver with each person carrying a combat load of not less than 30 kg.

Technical specifications of PMVs

• The PMVs must have ballistic protection and should be able to protect the vehicle from grenade and mine blasts. 
• It should have a maximum speed of 90 km on road and 40 km per hour on cross country terrain. 
• They should be able to operate in temperature ranges of 40 degrees centigrade to minus 15 degrees in high-altitude areas.
• The PMV should be able to ford in water with a depth of 1000 mm without any special preparation.

Does India produce PMV vehicles?

• India has the capability of producing PMVs. In April 2022, the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) handed over the first of such Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicles(IPMVs) to the Chief of Army Staff.
• Hence, TASL is now the first private sector company in the country to produce IPMV in collaboration with the DRDO.