New Delhi, Feb 23

India's leading forging and technology company Bharat Forge Limited has received an order worth Rs 177.95 Crores from the Indian Ministry of Defence for supply of Kalyani M4 vehicles. The unscheduled purchase is being made under the provisions of Emergency Procurement.

According to sources, last year during the India-China stand-off in northern Ladakh, Bharat Forge made its vehicles available to Indian Army for trials. Three vehicles of Bharat Forge went through trials, namely, troop carrier M4, Maverik and Mine Protected Vehicle.

During the trials vehicles were driven over 200 km above 15000 ft altitude.

Kalyani M4 is a monocoqe hull based, 14 ton vehicle capable of carrying eight fully armed soldiers along with two crew member. The multi-role STANAG III standard armoured platform comes with innovative flat floor design which can withstand blast of 50 kg of TNT from sides and 10 kg TNT under its hull. The vehicle is operational between -20 to 50 degree Celcius.

On Monday Bharat Forge announced its partnership with Paramount Group of South Africa to manufacture Armoured Vehicles in India. The agreement was signed at the ongoing IDEX-21, Abu Dhabi.

In a statement announcing the agreement, Amit Kalyani, Deputy Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said, “We are very pleased to partner with Paramount Group. This collaboration brings together the manufacturing and technology excellence of two leading companies, which have matching synergies and complementary capabilities. The Kalyani M4 is a fantastic new generation vehicle,  and we want to position it as the ‘future of protection’ in all markets world-wide.” 

Speaking on the partnership Ivor Ichikowitz, Chairman of Paramount Group, said, "The Kalyani M4 is based on one of our flagship armoured vehicles designed specifically for in-country production in India with our partners the Kalyani Group. We are proud that it will be made in India.”