After conquering the civilian
turf with the Tata Safari Storme, Tata Motors has now done the same in the
Indian Army turf. Tata Motors has signed a contract for supply of 3192 units of
the Tata Safari Storme 4x4 to the Indian Armed Forces, under a new category of
vehicles - GS800 (General Service 800).
The Indian Ministry of Defence
(MOD) had floated an RFP for vehicles with three basic criteria – minimum
payload capacity of 800 kgs; hard roofs and air conditioning. Developed
indigenously, the Tata Safari Storme 4x4 has completed a total trial duration
of 15 months in various terrains across the country, demonstrating supreme
performance in the most demanding conditions with capabilities of coping with
extreme on or off-road terrains, a company statement said.
For Tata Motors this latest order for the Tata
Storme by the Indian Army means it has
definitely earned its stripes. First it was the replacement of Tatra by Tata
High Mobility Vehicle 6x6 in the 10 Tonne class. And now a replacement of
Maruti Gypsy by Tata Safari Storme in the 4x4 light vehicle category,
reiterates Tata Motors’ position as a leading supplier of defence mobility
solutions to the Indian Armed Forces.
Introduced in 2012, the Tata Safari
Storme engine produces a peak power of 154hp & 400 Nm of peak torque. The Tata Safari Storme provides easy
drivability, swifter response and lower NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness),
with good fuel efficiency and best-in-class ground clearance of 200mm. The 4X4
variant also features ESOF (electronic shift-on-fly) technology, enabling
engagement of the 4X4 or 4X2 mode on the move.
Tata Motors’ Defence Solutions
offers its customers a wide range of vehicles in the light, medium and heavy
category. These include Logistics, Tactical, Armoured and Specialist vehicles,
with lowest life-cycle maintenance cost, supported by the company’s vast
pan-India service network, ensuring maximum operational readiness.
Tata Motors has been
associated with the country’s off-road defence and security forces, since 1958
and has supplied over 1,50,000 vehicles to the Indian Military and Paramilitary
forces, so far. Tata Motors exports its range of specialised defence vehicles
to the SAARC, ASEAN and African regions. With Tata Motors’ rich portfolio in
multi-axle range like 12×12, 8×8 & 6×6, the company has started supplying to
leading Missile OEMs across the world. The company has also established itself
as a supplier of specialist vehicles for UN peacekeeping missions.