Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a landmark contract to manufacture the BvS10 ‘Sindhu’, an advanced, fully amphibious, all-terrain armoured vehicle, for the Indian Army. The vehicle will be produced at L&T’s Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, under a licensing and technology-transfer (ToT) agreement with BAE Systems Hägglunds, the original developer of the BvS10 platform.
The deal also includes a complete logistics support package for deployment, maintenance, spares, and long-term sustainment—marking a major boost to India’s defence indigenisation under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
What Makes the BvS10 ‘Sindhu’ Special?
The BvS10 Sindhu is a customised and India-specific variant of the globally proven BvS10 articulated all-terrain vehicle. It has been specially adapted for India’s diverse climates and extreme geography, offering unmatched mobility in:
- High-altitude snowfields and glaciated terrain
- Marshlands and riverine belts
- Flooded zones and swampy regions
- Thar desert and semi-arid environments
- Coastal and amphibious operations
The vehicle successfully completed rigorous trials across high-altitude and sea-level conditions, proving its capability to meet demanding Indian Army standards for mobility, safety, and mission performance.
Key Features: Built for Extreme Terrain
The BvS10 Sindhu is known for its:
- Articulated twin-carriage design
- Superior traction on snow, mud, sand, and slush
- Full amphibious capability
- Ultra-low ground pressure, enabling movement on soft terrain
- High tactical mobility even with heavy loads
Its modular design allows the vehicle to be reconfigured quickly for different operational roles, making it exceptionally versatile for frontline deployment.
Modular Mission Roles
The Sindhu variant can be configured for a wide range of battlefield and logistics missions, including:
- Troop transport
- Command-and-control vehicle
- Logistics and supply carrier
- Armoured ambulance
- Field repair and recovery vehicle
- Weapon support platform
This flexibility significantly boosts the Indian Army’s operational reach, especially in remote border regions where traditional vehicles cannot operate.
Technology Transfer & Indigenous Manufacturing Push
The L&T–BAE partnership operates under a ToT-backed manufacturing framework, ensuring India receives:
- Indigenous production capability
- Local supply-chain development
- Design and maintenance expertise
- Long-term self-sufficiency in armoured mobility systems
The BvS10 Sindhu is the first time the platform is being produced for an Asian nation, reflecting its growing global demand and high reliability in tough operational environments.
Global Operators of the BvS10
The base BvS10 platform is already in service with several leading militaries, including:
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- France
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Ukraine
- Upcoming induction in Germany
With India joining the list, the system gains a major new operator capable of testing the vehicle in some of the world’s toughest high-altitude battlefields.
Why the BvS10 Sindhu Matters for India
The induction of BvS10 Sindhu is expected to:
- Enhance high-altitude logistics and troop mobility
- Improve quick-reaction capability in remote sectors
- Strengthen border infrastructure preparedness
- Support amphibious operations in the Northeast and island territories
- Boost India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem
It also solidifies L&T’s role as a leading defence system integrator, capable of producing next-generation mobility and armoured platforms at scale.
Conclusion
The BvS10 ‘Sindhu’ represents the future of all-terrain military mobility in India. Rugged, highly adaptable, and indigenously produced with global technology support, it will significantly expand the Indian Army’s ability to operate across mountains, snow deserts, marshlands, and amphibious environments.
With this programme, India takes another decisive step toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing, while adding a powerful new capability to its frontline forces.
