BAE Systems develops Indian variant Shindu of BvS10 tracked vehicle
On September 14, 2023, BAE Systems announced that its armored articulated all-terrain vehicle, theBvS10, will undergo evaluation by the Indian Army starting this month. For this purpose, the BvS10 has been modified to meet the specific needs of the Indian Army, and BAE has already coined a name for this new variant, the Sindhu.
BAE Systems has partnered with Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) to introduce the BvS10 into the Indian defense sector. The companies have formalized a licensing and manufacturing agreement to supply the BvS10 as an Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle (AATV) to the Indian Armed Forces. According to the contract, L&T will serve as the primary contractor for the Indian market, supported by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the Swedish entity responsible for the BvS10 vehicle series. Both companies have customized the BvS10 to align with the specific needs of the Indian military, introducing a new variant named BvS10-Sindhu. The AATV initiative aims to roll out these vehicles from L&T’s Armoured Systems Complex, complete with integrated logistic support (ILS).
The BvS10 is armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm caliber machine gun. In terms of armor, the vehicle offers protection against direct fire up to STANAG level 4 with add-on protection. It also features add-on mine protection at STANAG level 2a/2b and CE protection with an RPB armor cage.
The front vehicle weighs 5,100 kg, while the rear vehicle weighs 3,500 kg. The dimensions are also noteworthy: a length of 7.6 meters, a width of 2.2 meters, and a height of 2.2 meters. The BvS10 can reach speeds of up to 65 km/h on roads and has a water speed of 5 km/h. It has a range of 500 km.
Standard equipment includes an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection system, a winch, and air conditioning. Optional features include a weapon station, smoke grenade launcher, wire cutter, night vision, reverse camera, and an extra fuel tank. The vehicle has a 2+2 seating arrangement for the front vehicle and can accommodate up to 8 seats in the rear vehicle.
The BvS10’s modular design allows it to be reconfigured for different roles, including personnel transport, command and control, medical evacuation, and more. Its articulated mobility offers optimal maneuverability across varying terrains, including snow, ice, rock, sand, mud, swamps, and steep mountain environments.
The vehicle is already in active service in several countries, including Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. It has also been ordered by the German Army. BAE Systems’ unarmored version, known as Beowulf, recently won the U.S. Army’s Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) program, with a delivery of 110 vehicles planned over the next five years.