In a major push for defence indigenisation, the Army Base Workshop under Southern Command successfully carried out the pilot overhaul and rollout of the VT-72B Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) in Pune. The vehicle was ceremonially flagged off by Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General Sustenance (MGS), in the presence of Lieutenant General JS Sidana, Director General of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (DG EME) and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Corps of EME.
The milestone marks a significant stride in restoring the Army’s operational readiness while reducing dependence on imported spares. Historically, India acquired VT-72B ARVs from Slovakia, including 35 units under a $32 million deal in 1994 and 45 more under a $90 million contract in 1997.
Overhauled at the 512 Army Base Workshop, the vehicle is based on the Polish T-72M1 hull and features a 15-ton crane and modern recovery systems. Limited global availability of spares had made maintenance a challenge, but Army engineers successfully delivered a fully restored ARV, showcasing indigenous expertise under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Speaking at the event, Lt Gen Aujla, who earlier commanded the XV Corps in Kashmir, stressed that the achievement reflects the Army’s commitment to innovation, indigenisation, and combat readiness.
The rollout of the overhauled VT-72B ARV is expected to pave the way for similar upgrades across the fleet, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy and enhancing battlefield support capabilities.
