Date : March 2, 2001

Ashok Leyland has commenced delivery of the specially developed Light Recovery Vehicles (LRV 4x4) to the Indian Army. The first batch of 50 LRVs, from a total order for over 500 vehicles, was delivered recently. The order follows almost three years of extensive trials and evaluation. The supplies are expected to be completed by July / August 2001.

This is the first time the Ministry of Defence has acquired fully built LRVs from the private sector.

LRVs have recovery role in the event of vehicle casualties in the field and are built to be multi-terrain vehicles quite at home even off highways and in sandy terrains. Derived from Stallion 4x4, which did duty during the Kargil engagement, LRVs will support the Stallions and equivalent army vehicles.

Meanwhile, Ashok Leyland has developed two more specialized defence vehicles: a 6x6 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) and a 4x2 Truck Fire Fighting vehicle (TFF). Both of them have undergone the strenuous evaluation of the Ministry of Defence and have been approved for induction into the Army.

The Company has received serious export enquiries from Middle East and neighbouring countries for Stallion. With the export markets in view, the Company has also developed a high-performance, higher powered version with automatic transmission.