Aims to create employment opportunities for Ex-Serviceman, of the Indian Army
Tata Motors today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Ex-Servicemen Corporation Ltd (MESCO), for creation of employment opportunities for ex-service men of Indian Army, in response to Tata Motors solution for the Indian Ministry of Defences’ (MoD) prestigious $10 billion combat vehicle programme.
As one of the indigenization partners for the development of Tata Motors FICV (Future Infantry Combat Vehicle), the MoU was signed at the ongoing DEFEXPO 2016 in Goa, in the presence of Mr. Guenter Butschek, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Motors, Mr. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Tata Motors, Mr. Vernon Noronha, Vice President Defence and Government Business, Tata Motors, Mr. Vijay Shet, General Manager (Collaborations & Imports), Tata Motors and (Retd.) Col. Suhas Jatkar, Managing Director, Maharashtra Ex-Servicemen Corporation Ltd.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Defence particularly needs partners with long-term commitments, to see products and solutions through multiple generations of evolution and we at Tata Motors are proud to have joined hands with MESCO and the Indian army’s ex-servicemen, for India’s first indigenously developed combat vehicle. Through this partnership, we will be even better positioned to involve the Small & Medium Scale Enterprises in defence equipment manufacturing and at the same time cater to the opportunities available right here in India.”
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Vernon Noronha, Vice President Defence and Government Business, Tata Motors said, “We are pleased to collaborate with MESCO for the Indian MoD’s FICV Programme. Through this collaboration, we hope to utilize the experience and further develop the expertise of our nations ex-servicemen, to develop and produce components for the Indian MoD’s FICV program. Aimed at creating skilled professionals in the defence space and in-line with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the collaboration is expected to create domain specific job opportunities for ex-servicemen of the Indian army.”
(Retd.) Col. Suhas Jatkar, Managing Director, MESCO said, “We are honored to have partnered with Tata Motors in this unique collaborative effort to generate employment opportunities for the country’s ex-servicemen, that will also lead to crafting out a niche of skilled personnel, in the development of defence equipment. Vital for the safe keeping of our country, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of learning and implementation through this initiative”
MESCO a Government of Maharashtra undertaking, of the Mahasainik Industrial Estate (MSIE) is India’s first unique Ex-servicemen Industrial Estate set-up in Pune in 2002, for the establishment and resettlement of ex-servicemen, with the moto of ‘Service with Discipline’. MESCO’s objective is to provide reasonable employment to ex-servicemen of the state nearest to their homes, within their district by undertaking various commercial activities. Having bagged over 270 contracts, MESCO operates in thirty-four districts and employs over 11000 Ex-servicemen.
Tata Motors recently also signed a strategic agreement with Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) of the US, for the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD’s) prestigious Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program. Tata Motors will lead the consortium, playing on its strengths related to Design, Development & Integration of mobility platforms, with Bharat Forge Limited as a partner, bringing on board its competence in local manufacturing. General Dynamics Land Systems will bring in its much proven expertise in combat vehicle programs, as a SOSI (a system of systems integrator), enabling Tata Motors, the lead integrator, to offer a truly indigenous solution for this ‘Make’ (in India) program.
To be developed under the ‘Make Category’, the FICV is a high mobility armoured battle vehicle, for infantry men to keep pace with new advancements in weaponry system. The FICV needs to be compact, tracked and amphibious, no heavier than 18-20 tonnes, so that it can be air-portable and transportable by other means, onto combat zones. The vehicle must fire anti-tank guided missiles, to ranges beyond four kilometers, with a capability to carry a crew of three and eight combat-kitted infantrymen. The FICV will replace the Indian Army’s fleet of 2610 Russian-designed BMP (Sarath BMP-II) series armed vehicles, that are in operation since 1980.
TATA MOTORS DEFENCE OFFERINGS
Tata Motors offers its defence customers with a wide range of vehicles, in the light, medium and heavy category, having created a focused division to design and develop defence technologies and products, at its manufacturing facilities in Jamshedpur and Pune. Tata Motors also has a dedicated service team and network for defence products, across the length and breadth of the country. Through HORIZONEXT, the company’s four-pronged customer-focused strategy, Tata Motors Defence land solutions are based on a customer centric approach, that ensures vehicle reliability, optimum usability, and easily serviceable, with technology at the forefront.
TATA MOTORS IN COMBAT VEHICLE SPACE
For self-reliance in the area of Combat Vehicles & Engineering, Tata Motors has laid emphasis on the development of Combat Vehicle Technologies and systems, with the aim of empowering our defence forces, with breakthrough technologies. The idea is to ensure high mobility, fire power and protection to troops during military operations, with WORLD-CLASS ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES. Hence Tata Motors is strategically moving from a logistics support provider, to a combat vehicle player.
In combat vehicles, Tata Motors has indigenously designed and developed, along with DRDO, the Wheeled Armored Platform (WHAP) – the KESTREL Infantry Combat Vehicle, designed for optimized survivability, all terrain performance and increased lethality.
Tata Motors has also developed a Light Armoured Multi-Role Vehicle (LAMV) – a reconnaissance vehicle, combining vital operational pre requisites of mobility, protection and firepower. Equipped with modern observation, surveillance and communication equipment, the LAMV is meant to provide armed forces with the technological edge, necessary to achieve superiority on the battlefield.
About Tata Motors Defence Solutions:
Tata Motors has been associated with the country’s off-road defence and security forces, since 1958 and has supplied over 110,000 vehicles to the Indian military and Paramilitary forces, so far. The company offers its products and services that not only meet the needs of the domestic market, but are also positioned to meet most stringent requirements across the world. Tata Motors exports its range of specialized 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. Tata Motors range of off-road vehicles are also being procured by the agencies involved in AID & Development, across the world like GSA, KBR, Oxfam, RONCO, RA International & Riders.
