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    William Dalrymple (historian)

    Mahindra Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle
    Mahindra ALSV
    TypeInfantry mobility vehicle with MRAP capabilities
    Place of origin India
    Service history
    In serviceOctober 2020
    Used bySee Operators
    WarsInsurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
    Production history
    DesignerMahindra Defence Systems
    ManufacturerMahindra Defence Systems
    Specifications
    Mass2,500 kg curb weight
    Length4.4 m
    Width1.96 m
    Height1.98 m
    ArmorCEN B7 STANAG Level II
    EngineSteyr 3.2-litre 6 Cylinder Diesel Engine- Turbocharged[1]
    215 hp @ 3600 rpm [1]
    Payload capacity1,000 Kgs [1]
    Transmission4 Speed Automatic [1]
    SuspensionBilstein Heavy Duty Suspension
    Maximum speed 120 kph
    Steering
    system
    		Power steering, Front wheel

    Mahindra Armored Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV), also known as Armando[2] or simply Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV), is a light-weight four-wheel drive air transportable tactical armoured specialist vehicle designed by Mahindra & Mahindra for the Indian Army and the Indian Special Forces. It's a modular type vehicle built to be maintenance friendly, and can be upgraded and configured for wide range of roles.

    History

    The vehicle is a derivative of Mahindra Axe. It is powered by a Steyr 3.2-litre, 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine which provides 215 hp at 3600 rpm with a peak torque of 500Nm.[3]

    In March 2021, the company won a contract to supply 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles (LSV) worth ₹1,056 crore (equivalent to ₹12 billion or US$140 million in 2023) to the Indian Army.[4][5] The deliveries of the vehicles began on 177 June 2023.[6]

    In January 2023, the Indian Army released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 50 automated infantry mortar systems mounted on 4×4 high-mobility light vehicles.[7][8][9] The contract was secured by Mahindra which offered its Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (VMIMS), the mortar carrier variant of ALSV fitted with Alakran-L deployable mortar system from Milanion NTGS. The system primarily deploys an 81 mm mortar with an option for heavy 120 mm mortar as well. The contract was formalised later in 2023 and deliveries started from the same year. The variant in-service was first publicly displayed at the 75th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26 January 2024.[10] On 30 January, Milanion NTGS announced that the delivery mortar system for VMIMS would be completed by late 2024.[2] By March 2025, the system was deployed in the Sikkim region by the Trishakti Corps.[8][9][11] The system has a marketing designation of Mahindra ALSV Alakran 81mm VMIMS and Indian Army designation of Airawat.[12]

    Design

    The Mahindra ALSV has been designed to comply with the Indian Army's future requirements of a Light Armored tactical vehicle. The ALSV comes in several variants - 6 or 8-seater Armoured Protection Vehicle, Light Armoured Ambulance, Command and Control Vehicle and Ammunition Carrier variants.[13] The ALSV offers ballistic protection of STANAG Level 1 upgradeable to CEN B7 STANAG Level II; STANAG Level II could stop a range of ammunitions including 7.62×51mm NATO caliber and heavy .50 BMG rounds.[14]

    The ALSV offers ballistic protection against IEDs, hand grenades and anti personnel mines is ideally suited for patrolling in high intensity combat zones.[15]

    The vehicle has a Steyr 3.2-litre, 6-cylinder multi-fuel turbodiesel engine that develops 215HP at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 500Nm, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.[14] It has a load capacity of 400 kg.[14]

    The ALSV can also be integrated with Milan-2T ATGM launchers, grenade launcher and medium machine guns.[4] The ATGM variant was tested in Teesta Field Firing Range by Indian Army's Trishakti Corps in February 2024.[16] Future plans for the vehicle also include integrating loitering munitions.

    The mortar carrier variant of the ALSV, designated as Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (VMIMS), is equipped with Milanion NTGS Alakran mortar system. The calibre of mortar maybe 81 mm or 120 mm.[17] The system is deployed from the rear of the vehicle using an electromechanical actuator. It takes two minutes for the system to fire 8 rounds towards enemy positions, making it an ideal shoot-and-scoot platform. It has a maximum firing range 7.2 km. The system, operated by a two-member crew, has a sustained firing rate of 16 per minute and a maximum rate of 20 rounds per minute. The system has a capacity of 72 mortar bombs with 36 each stored on either side of the vehicle.[8][9][10]

    Variants

    Mahindra ALSV Armado (left) and Mahindra VMIMS Airawat (right) during Republic Day Parade 2024

    The variants of Mahindra ALSV includes : - [18][19]

    Operators

     India
     United Nations

    References

    1. ^ a b c d "Armored Light Specialist Vehicle by Mahindra Armored". Mahindra. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011.
    2. ^ a b c "Final deliveries of VMIMS to Indian Army scheduled for end of 2024". Janes. 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    3. ^ Sabyasachi Dasgupta (2020-05-30). "Why Anand Mahindra thinks this armoured vehicle is one of the meanest". Hindustan Times Auto News. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
    4. ^ a b "Indian Army to get 1,300 'Made in India' specialist vehicles". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
    5. ^ a b Broadsword. "Indian Army to get its own Humvee". Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
    6. ^ @anandmahindra (2023-06-17). "At #MahindraDefence we have just begun deliveries of the Armado—India's 1st Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle..." (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-04-06 – via Twitter.
    7. ^ @alpha_defense (2023-01-27). "The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, intends to procure quantity 50 Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (VMIMS) along with..." (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-04-06 – via Twitter.
    8. ^ a b c d "Army enhances border defense with deployment of VMIMS in Sikkim". The Statesman. 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
    9. ^ a b c "Indian Army Deploys Advanced Infantry Mortar Systems Along LAC in Sikkim". Khyber Mail. 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
    10. ^ a b Valpolini, Paolo (2024-01-26). "Mahindra Alakran VMIMS Showcased at Prestigious Republic Day 2024 Celebrations". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    11. ^ "Indian Army deploys Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System near LAC". Janes. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
    12. ^ @AdithyaKM_ (2025-03-14). "Airawat / Mahindra ALSV Alakran 81mm Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (VMIMS) by TriShakti Corps" (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-04-06 – via Twitter.
    13. ^ "Mahindra's Armored Light Specialist Vehicle". www.topgearmag.in. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    14. ^ a b c "Indian Defence orders 1300 Mahindra LSV Light Specialist Vehicles". armyrecognition.com. 23 March 2021.
    15. ^ a b "Mahindra Armored LSV Deployed in Congo for UN Peacekeeping". RushLane Daily Auto News. 11 October 2020.
    16. ^ a b "Sikkim: Indian Army conducts Anti Tank Guided Missile field firing test at Teesta Range". The Economic Times. 2024-02-29. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    17. ^ "Alakran - Milanion NTGS". 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    18. ^ "Mahindra's Armored Light Specialist Vehicle". www.topgearmag.in. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    19. ^ "Mahindra Begins Deliveries Of Armoured Vehicles For Indian Army". Mobility Outlook. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
    20. ^ "As Army gets more 'Indian Humvees', Anand Mahindra gets deluge of requests for launch of the special vehicle for common man". The Economic Times. 2024-01-31. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-04-06.


    Credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahindra_Armored_Light_Specialist_Vehicle

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