An anti-terrorist vehicle developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which will help of the defence forces during counter insurgency operations in enclosed areas, has been successfully tested at the Terminal Ballistic laboratory, Chandigarh.
This armoured vehicle has been developed by the DRDO, keeping in view the fast evolving terror plots in which heavily populated residential complex are being targeted. During such situation heavily armoured light motor vehicle are of no use as these machines are unable to ferry inside the building.
Recently designed anti-terrorist vehicle, which passed its initial tests at TBRl, is a small armoured car which will easily ply in corridors of a building. These vehicles have been designed to ferry armed forces personal easily inside a building and carry one to two men armed with light arms and ammunitions to a spot where the terrorist is holed up.
Small in size the vehicle also have a 360 degree turning radius, which makes it ideal for plying in narrow corridors without any hindrance. During the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, the armed forces realized that terrorist use human shield to hide and it becomes almost impossible to carry out missions in such situations inside a building.
After analyzing the situation which ascertained the fact that, when terrorist are holed up into residential complexes with hostages, security personal are unable to move inside the building with heavy assault fire from the enemy during siege, DRDO gave the task of finding a solution to its Vehicle Research and Development Establishment.
The newly developed armoured vehicle will give the armed forces an edge over the enemy and will help them to move amidst heavy assault firing inside a building, without being hurt. During vehicle’s trial in Chandigarh, this armoured vehicle even sustained grenade attacks.
Three different models of these anti-terrorist vehicles have been developed, with each model having its own unique feature. These vehicles are heavily armoured and the security personals who are inside the vehicle, can keep an eye on the activities that will take place outside. A battery operated model of this vehicle can even use the stairs.
TBRl authorities have said that during the initial tests the small anti-terrorist van has passed with flying colors and soon it will be given to central reserved forces and the defense forces, for use during anti-insurgency missions.