Automobile manufacturing firm Ashok Leyland, along with engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T), are reportedly close to securing a contract from the Indian Army, to supply multi barrel rocket launchers (MBRLs).
Ashok Leyland vice-chairman V. Sumantran was quoted by Business Standard as saying: "We are the L1 (lowest bidder) in the tender which was opened. Discussions are going on. Most likely, we will execute the order to supply about 100 units."
Sumantran added that the company is also planning to expand its presence in defence logistics, with a heavier truck programme.
Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS) is a joint venture firm which provides solutions to address global defence requirements.
Citing the the company’s website, Business Standard reported that the two partners for the company’s business in the segment are Panhard General Defense, France and Germany-based Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).
In 2011, Ashok Leyland and KMW signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop advanced defence systems for India and defence forces worldwide.
Ashok Leyland supplies a number of vehicles for various applications to the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and para-military forces like troop carriers, re-fuellers, vehicles for gun mounting, fire-fighting, UAV support and recovery vehicles, flat-bed trucks and buses.
