India is continuously increasing its military strength. In this context, the Indian Army is preparing to purchase a new Mortar Specialist Vehicle (MSV) to increase its firepower and speed in the battlefield. Only two soldiers will operate this vehicle. The MSV will have the capacity to carry approximately 54 mortar bombs. For this, the Army has issued Request for Information (RFI) from domestic defense companies.
According to the information, this state-of-the-art vehicle will be built for 81 mm and 120 mm mortar systems. It will be equipped with a ballistic computer, which will automatically calculate the distance and direction of the target and help the mortar to aim accurately. This will greatly increase the chances of hitting the target in the first firing and will also save ammunition.
MSV will remove the shortcomings
According to sources, the existing mortar systems are largely dependent on the experience and manual calculations of soldiers, due to which there remains a possibility of error. In such a situation, the new MSV will overcome these shortcomings and will give the soldiers the ability to “shoot and scoot” i.e. change the position immediately after firing, so that the enemy’s counter-attack can be avoided.
two soldiers will operate
Only two soldiers will operate the Mortar Specialist Vehicle (MSV). The information received from the observer deployed ahead will directly reach the computer installed in the vehicle, which will prepare complete data of the firing in a few seconds. The Army wants the vehicle to be ready for firing within 20 seconds and once fired, it can hit the target again in just 5 seconds.
Capacity to carry approximately 54 mortar bombs
It is being told that the MSV will have the capacity to carry about 54 mortar bombs. In future it can also be integrated with larger caliber mortar systems. The army has set strict technical standards for this. The maximum speed of the vehicle should be 80 kilometers per hour on highways and 40 kilometers per hour on normal roads. It will be able to run on roads for about 400 kilometers at a time and in difficult areas for up to 250 kilometers.
Ability to work at high altitude
Apart from this, this vehicle should be capable of working in high altitude areas like Ladakh at altitudes up to 17 thousand feet and in temperatures ranging from minus 25 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. The vehicle will also have STANAG Level-1 ballistic protection, anti-drone cage, run-flat tyres, automatic transmission and modern military communication equipment.
This project is part of the rapid modernization of the Indian Army. In recent years, the Army has inducted the M777 ultra-light howitzer, indigenous ATAGS cannon and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system, now this new mortar specialist vehicle will further strengthen precision and network-based fire support at the battalion level.
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