Indian CRPF Central Reserve Police Force operates WhAP 8×8 Armoured vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has received new Wheeled Armoured Amphibious Platforms (WhAP) for anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The WhAP, unveiled at DefExpo India 2014, is an 8×8 vehicle developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Sheeshpal, CO CRPF said: “It is made in India and can run on any terrain, whether it is land, water, marshes or high mountain ranges.”
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The Central Reserve Police Force has initially received six WhHAP vehicles. Two of them are already deployed in South Kashmir. The driver is protected by a permanent armored structure (Picture source : kalingatv.com)

Unlike its CPRF version which is simply armed with a machine gun above the vehicle commander's hatch, the "military" WhAP is fitted with a BMP-2 turret armed with a stabilized 30mm automatic gun 2A42 and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun with 2,000 rounds. Mounted on the turret roof between the gunner's and commander's hatches is a launcher for an AT-4 Spigot or AT-5 Spandrel ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) which has a maximum range of 4,000m. The WhAP has a weight of around 25 tons and is powered by a 600hp diesel engine. It can reach a maximum road speed of 100 km/h. For amphibious operations, the WhAP is propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 10 km/h thanks to two hydrojets.

Among the various armed forces, CRPF is the first paramilitary force to receive the ‘Wheeled Armored Amphibious Platform’ (WHAP). In 2022, the Indian Army is also deploying WhAPs to strengthen its troops deployed in the eastern sector of Ladakh.

As per reports, the Central Reserve Police Force has initially received six WhHAP vehicles. Two of them are already deployed in South Kashmir.

The "military" variant of the WhAP Wheeled Amphibious Platform in a dynamic demo at DefExpo 2018 near Chennai, on April 11, 2018 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Defense News August 2023