Indian army to get Kalyani M4 multi-purpose armored vehicles.

Kalyani M4 is a multi-purpose armored vehicle, built for transporting troops in high altitude regions and harsh terrains, Kshitij Rawat reports on WaadiGaadi.com. In February, the Indian Army had placed emergency orders for M4s. The vehicles will be built by Pune-based Bharat Forge (of the Kalyani Group), in partnership with Paramount Group (South Africa) whose Mbombe 4 has been adapted to Indian requirements.
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M4 multi-purpose armored vehicle (Picture source: Kalyani)

Kalyani group have been a pioneer in the manufacturing of axles, aggregates and driveline technology for defense compact vehicles worldwide and they expanded the business to building various military protected vehicles especially for the Indian Army. The Mbombe 4 was designed and developed in South Africa by Paramount Group specifically for local manufacturing in customer countries, in response to the increasing requirement from governments for the development of their own defense industrial capabilities.

Kalyani M4 has already undergone testing in Ladakh, during the tense standoff with China, Kshitij Rawat reports. Kalyani Group had received an order worth Rs. 177.95 crore from the Indian Ministry of Defence. The order is for an undisclosed, but small, number of vehicles.

Kalyani M4 has already undergone testing in Ladakh, during the tense standoff with China (Picture source: Kalyani/Indian army)

Kalyani M4 is a multi-role armored vehicle, designed for use in harsh terrains and regions affected by land mines and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), with a focus on quick mobility. The vehicle features an innovative flat-floor monocoque hull, and offers ballistic and blast protection from up to 50kg TNT side blast or IED/roadside bombs. The M4 can operate in extreme temperatures as well, ranging from -20oC to 50oC.

The M4 weighs around 16 tons and can carry a payload of up to 2.3 tons or a crew of eight. The vehicle has a water fording capacity of 90 cm. The glass in the viewports of the M4 can withstand fire from sniper and anti-materiel rifles. Powering the M4 is a turbocharged, six-cylinder diesel engine, rated at 465 HP. The top speed is claimed to be 140 km/h, and the vehicle offers a driving range of up to 800 km on a single tank of fuel. It offers a four-wheel-drive system as well, with three air-operated differential locks. The vehicle rides on run-flat tires. Kalyani M4 also gets a driver assist camera system, along with a 16kW air-conditioning system with HEPA filters for the crew.

Paramount Group Mbombe 4 displayed in Abu Dhabi during IDEX 2019 defense exhibition. Kalyani M4 is an Indian adaptation of the original Mbombe 4 (Picture source: Army Recognition)