Ashok Leyland bags $52.27M defense order
By agencies   |   Thursday, 02 February 2006, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Commercial vehicles manufacturer Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) announced that it had bagged a $52.27 million order from the Indian army for supplying 872 specialized water carriers. Announcing this, ALL’s Managing Director, R Seshasayee said, “The first indigenously-built water carrier, meeting general staff qualitative requirements, has a capacity of 5 kilolitres and can carry potable water for army personnel in all terrains. The tanker has been designed to keep the temperature under control and maintain the purity of water.” The company would start delivering the vehicles in this quarter of the current financial year and would be completed over the next six months. He said the company was the largest supplier of logistic vehicles to the defense forces and would soon be getting into the tactical vehicles segment with the development of light and heavy armored vehicles. Seshasayee said, “The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is already using our Stallion carrier platform to develop armored vehicles. Independently also, we are working on building armored vehicles which will be available in the next seven to eight months.” The company has upgraded the Stallion for the export market and for the Indian defense forces as well. The Stallion has been successful in trials in Africa and the ASEAN region, he said. ALL’s subsidiary P L Haulwell Trailers is supplying mobile missile launchers to the defense forces. Seshasayee said, “Our discussions is on with defense forces for supplying mobile bridge layers, mobile hospitals and command center vehicles.” In addition, the company is executing repeat orders for light recovery vehicles and truck fire fighting. At present, the defense sector accounts for 8-12 percent of the company's revenues and is expected to grow at the rate of 10 percent, Seshasayee added.

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