India has one of the most difficult borders in the world. With the international border in the Himalayan region, reaching the extremely remote locations can become challenging. While the armed forces work relentlessly to keep the borders safe, they use a number of vehicles to carry them to the forward posts and do the patrolling duties at the border areas. Here are eight such vehicles that are used by our armed forced including BSF and ITBP.
Tata Safari Storme
Tata Safari Storme is the vehicle that was officially inducted in the armed forces quite recently. Tata makes customised Safari Storme for our armed forces that are finished in the olive green colour. It even uses stiffer suspension and an array of modification like a jerry can holder, antenna, pintle hook, and more. All the Safari Storme SUVs supplied to the Armed forces are 4X4 and are powered by the 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces a maximum of 154 Bhp and peak torque of 400 Nm.
Maruti Suzuki Gypsy
Tata Sumo 4X4
In the past, Tata has also supplied the Indian Army and other paramilitary forces with special 4X4 Sumo. The extremely popular Sumo gets 4X4 drivetrain and has been supplied for various specialisation work including being an ambulance. Since the Sumo is extremely spacious, the cabin can be modified to use it as an ambulance in difficult terrains where regular ambulances will just fail and get stuck.
Hindustan Ambassador
Hindustan Ambassador was discontinued from the Indian market after remaining in production for decades. The sedan was mostly used by government officials and armed forces and even after years of its discontinuation, many of these Ambassador vehicles remain in service. The Hindustan Ambassador looks stately in the olive green shade. Most of these sedans remain powered by the same 2.0-litre engine that generates a maximum power of 52 PS and peak torque of 106 Nm.
Mahindra Scorpio
The Scorpio is one popular vehicle that is extremely popular in the market. The rugged ladder-on-frame SUV is also used by the army officials to travel around. There is quite a handful of Mahindra Scorpio SUVs used by the armed forces in India. All the Scorpio used by the armed forces are powered by the 2.2-litre diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 120 Bhp and peak torque of 280 Nm.
Toyota Fortuner
The Fortuner is a highly reliable SUV that provides a good amount of comfort. There are a few Toyota Fortuner SUVs used by the ITBP in India. These Fortuners are first-generation models and are equipped with radio communications. The SUVs have been modified to carry heavy weapons too.
Mitsubishi Pajero
The Pajero did not become quite as popular as the manufacturer would have liked in India. However, there are a few Pajeros used by the armed forces in India. Most of these Pajeros are stationed in West Bengal and are used the North-East states of the country. It comes powered by the 2.8-litre diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 120 Bhp and peak torque of 280 Nm.
Polaris snowmobile
Since the upper Himalayas remain under the cover for snow for the better time of the year, they remain inaccessible by regular vehicles. That’s why such specialised vehicles like a snowmobile have to be used to reach the forward posts and patrol during the winter months.
Written By- Shantonil Nag, Source – Cartoq.
