Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has announced that BAE Systems and Mahindra Defence are in discussion to jointly develop an Indian mine protected vehicle based on BAE Systems’ highly successful RG-31 mine protected vehicle. BAE Systems has already supplied 165 mine protected vehicles known as Casspir to the Indian Army since 1999.

At this year’s 5th Defence and Naval Exhibition (DEFEXPO), a BAE Systems RG-31 will be on display on the Mahindra Defence stand.

Nearly 600 RG-31s are in service with the U.S., Canada, and other forces, including the United Nations. Under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) programme, 624 RG-31s have been ordered.

“Mahindra Defence Systems is in the business of providing vehicle protection to defence forces,” said Brigadier Khutub Hai, Chief Executive of Mahindra Defence Systems - “Our cooperation with BAE Systems, who are leaders in this field, for joint production of mine protected vehicles is a strategic fit for our vehicle armouring business.”

The all-steel, welded armor, monocoque hull of the RG-31 protects occupants from anti-tank mine detonations and is proven to have saved the lives of countless crews from mines and roadside bomb attacks. With a modular interior layout the vehicle can be configured as an APC, command vehicle, ambulance, surveillance vehicle and for many other uses. In standard APC configuration, this air-conditioned vehicle carries a crew of 8-10.