In a significant achievement for the Make in India initiative, Tata has secured a contract to manufacture 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) combat vehicles for the Moroccan defense forces.
According to defense officials, the contract was formalized between the Indian firm and Morocco, marking a pivotal step in enhancing military collaboration. The WhAP vehicles were developed by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in collaboration with Tata.
The contract stipulates that the vehicles will be delivered to the Moroccan forces over a span of three years. This order represents the largest contract for Indian-made armored vehicles, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Indian paramilitary forces have also expressed interest in the indigenous armoured vehicle, further underscoring its significance.
Trials for the WhAP have been conducted in Morocco over the past several months, demonstrating the vehicle’s capabilities. Officials noted that manufacturers would closely collaborate with teams from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to implement upgrades throughout the supply period.
The WhAP is an indigenously designed and developed amphibious wheeled combat vehicle. The DRDO highlights that the design philosophy of this platform aligns with global trends, focusing on modularity, scalability, and reconfigurability to accommodate various operational roles.
The WhAP is capable of traversing challenging terrains, including muddy or slushy environments, and has been engineered to withstand mine blasts. Variants of the WhAP, such as the Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV) and the paramilitary version, have already been inducted into the Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
(Inputs from ANI)
