Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment to Develop Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle for Indian Army

In order to aid the Indian Army during its combat missions and operations, a new Armoured Repair and Recovery vehicle is being developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE). This new Armoured vehicle will be a variant of the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) and its concept and configuration has already been finalised and the detailed design initiated.

CVRDE, which is the premier lab of the state-run Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in Chennai, will be developing two prototypes of the proposed Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle in three years. According to officials, the new vehicle will be an Arjun MBT variant and its hull, including the chassis automative system, will be similar to the Arjun MBT Mark II. In addition, minor changes will be made to accommodate a crane and a winch since it will be a recovery vehicle.

As for the Indian Army, it has proposed this crucial project to meet the Army’s demand in mission mode. The Indian Army is expected to order 30 units of this Army Vehicle if the CVRDE satisfies the expectations of the Indian Army in the first two units. The new Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (ARRV) will weigh around 65 tons and function as a recovery vehicle for the Army in tough terrains as well as in extreme climates.

The CVRDE is the DRDO’s main research lab responsible for the development of the Arjun MBT. The Indian Army has ordered 248 Arjun MBTs. CVRDE has also developed the Tank-EX, Bhima Self Propelled Artillery, based on the Arjun Chassis, and the Combat Improved Ajeya, an upgrade of the Indian Army’s T-72 Tanks.CVRDE has also developed other combat and Engineering Vehicles like Armored Cars, Bridge-layer Tanks, Armored Recovery Vehicles and a Mortar Carrier based on the BMP-2 chassis.

CVRDE has been at the forefront of developing tanks and armoured vehicles in the country for the Armed Forces. CVRDE also has considerable expertise in designing and developing the new repair and recovery vehicle as it had earlier designed an Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) adapting the basic Vijayanta chassis to replace the then obsolete Sherman and Centurion ARVs. The design was optimised to keep the weight within 40 tons to achieve a lifting capacity of 10 tons and pulling capacity of 25 tons.

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