V.S. Noronha, head of defence business at Tata Motors, claims that the 1.2 tonne-payload LSV can carry more men and material than the traditional 500 kg-payload Mahindra jeeps and Ordnance Factory Board’s Jongas.

Tata Motors, says Noronha, initially thought of adapting a foreign military vehicle for its LSV, and examined the light tactical vehicles from Panhard of France, Gaz of Russia, and also the Hummer from General Motors of the US. “But none of them met all the requirements of operating in the multi-terrain, multi-weather Indian conditions,” he says. “Therefore, Tata Motors have built the vehicle from scratch.”

Being fully domestic, he contends, Tata LSV would cost a lot less than the $80,000-$100,000 tag on the rival vehicles, and would also be much easier and cheaper to maintain.

Tata LSV is facing competition from Mahindra’s Axe. The vehicle won a lot of admiration when it was shown at the January Auto Expo in Delhi. This is another home-designed, home-made vehicle, albeit it uses a Mercedes engine.

According to Brigadier (Retd) K.A. Hai, CEO of Mahindra Defence Systems, Axe has done rather well in army’s winter trials in the mountains of the north. He is hopeful that the vehicle would also pass muster in the desert of Rajasthan in the summer.

Regarding selling Axe to civilians, just as GM sells civil versions of its army vehicle Humvee in the US, Hai says the company would consider fitting the vehicle with its Scorpio SUV engine for the civilian market. “With its Mercedes diesel engine or GM petrol engine, Axe will cost civilians nearly $100,000,” he says.

Mahindra will also introduce its new armoured vehicle, Marksman, and a military version of the Scorpio SUV at the expo. In fact, the company intends to replace its traditional jeeps with Scorpios as its standard transport vehicle for Indian army.

The other contenders for the LSV order — vehicles from Ashok Leyland, Vectra, and Ordnance Factory Board — will also be there.

Ashok Leyland will also be unveiling its LSV for the first time at the expo. The company is making it with technology from Panhard of France. Traditionally, the company has produced mainly recovery vehicles and fire tenders for Indian Army. It will come with two other frontline vehicles — the six-wheel drive Stallion 6x6 and a artillery towing vehicle, FAT.