CRPF inducts better variant DRDO's WhAP armoured vehicle
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Inspector General Gyanendra Kumar Verma of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently reviewed troop deployment and evaluated the newly deployed Wheeled Armoured Amphibious Platform (WHAP) at the 110th Battalion in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. This strategic action demonstrates the CRPF's dedication to improving its security capabilities in the region's difficult terrain.
IG Gyanendra Kumar Verma extensively inspected the WHAP during his tour, a specialist vehicle designed to offer the CRPF with a considerable tactical edge.Unlike the army's Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), the CRPF's WHAP derivative is outfitted with true amphibious capabilities, including water jets.This capability allows the CRPF to negotiate water barriers, which makes it especially useful in areas where infiltration via marshes, lakes, and lagoons is a major problem.
Sh. Gyanendra Kumar Verma, IG @KOSCRPF, visited 110 Bn #Pulwama today to review the deployment
— Kashmir Ops Sector, CRPF (@KOSCRPF) August 19, 2023
His visit included a close inspection of the newly inducted Wheeled Armoured Amphibious Platform (WHAP) vehicle. Strengthening our capabilities to ensure safety & security. @crpfindia pic.twitter.com/Um0SA5OLX1
The Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) at Ahmednagar created the Paramilitary Variant of the WHAP to fulfill the specific demands of the paramilitary forces. The CRPF entrusted VRDE with the development and supply of six of these vehicles, and the company worked hard to establish a platform that offers ballistic armoured protection and improved blast resistance.
The vehicle has 88 wheels and is driven by a powerful 600-horsepower engine and automated gearbox. The incorporation of a specifically built cost-effective 7.62 mm Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) into the CRPF's WHAP enhances its precise targeting and engagement capabilities.
The camouflage pattern is one of the key differences between the CRPF's WHAP and the army's IPMV. While the army's IPMVs are camouflaged in desert to match their deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the CRPF's equivalent is camouflaged in woods. This deliberate decision matches the vehicle's look to the operating area it will most likely face.
The CRPF's attempt to expand its security capabilities via the use of modern platforms such as the WHAP reflects the organization's dedication to guaranteeing safety and security in difficult areas. The amphibious features of the vehicle open up new options for blocking infiltration from water bodies, increasing the CRPF's operational efficiency.
On March 21, 2023, the CRPF received the formal delivery of the Paramilitary Variant of WHAP, marking a critical milestone in this effort. The occasion was graced by the presence of Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of Defense R&D and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), who virtually flagged off the platform from DRDO HQ.
