Defence Ministry issue RFI to buy 2150 high mobility vehicles
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On Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence published two Requests for Information (RFI) to buy High Mobility Vehicles (HMV). The original objective is to purchase 2,150 such vehicles, which can transport cargoes weighing up to 8,000 kg. These vehicles will be stationed on both Pakistan's western and China's northern borders.
The goal, according to one of the RFIs, is to purchase around 650 high mobility vehicles 6x6 with material handling cranes (HMV 6x6 with MHC). The second RFI is for the purchase of about 1,500 high mobility 6x6 General Service vehicles (HMV 6x6 (GS)).
According to sources, the objective is to progressively replace the older cars with modern vehicles. "The requirement is that these vehicles be able to negotiate the narrow mountain roads with sharp turns," explained one officer. According to the source, the material handling crane will aid in the loading of payloads such as artillery weapons onto the systems.
According to the RFI, vehicles in both categories will be utilized for "transportation of heavy equipment, including ammunition, on metalled roads as well as unmetalled, desert, and kachcha tracks." The vehicle will have 6x6 drive and will be capable of functioning as a high mobility load carrier in cross-country terrains with a payload capacity of at least 8,000 kg."
The platform should be adaptable for various purposes, such as troop transport, container transport on flatbeds, and any other specialized roles, according to the RFI.
They will be used for cross-country and off-road operations in "plain and desert terrains obtained along the country's western borders, and high altitude, mountain terrains up to 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) obtained along the country's northern borders (Eastern Ladakh, Central Sector, and North Sikkim)."
According to the RFI, the acquisition of these vehicles falls within the 'Make in India' umbrella.
The RFI is intended for Indian vendors that can either produce on their own with 60% indigenous content or manufacture in collaboration with an original equipment manufacturer with more than 50% indigenous content.The RFI answer must be accepted within eight weeks of the date of pre-response vendor contact.
With heightened deployment, tensions between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army remain high along the Line of Actual Control. India has been upgrading its infrastructure and introducing new technology in the area. For a long period, the Chinese side has been developing infrastructure.
The RFI is a method of soliciting information from vendors in order to investigate the appropriateness of available goods to satisfy the operational requirements of the services, as well as to develop SQR, maintenance philosophy, and other contractual terms.