The Indian Army‘s intention to acquire Stryker armoured vehicles from Ontario, Canada, has been cast into uncertainty due to the deteriorating diplomatic ties between India and Canada. The infantry combat vehicles, which are primarily employed by the United States military, were included in discussions between India and the US regarding the co-production of military hardware.In June, a high-ranking US official had indicated progress and positive developments in these talks.
Stryker armoured vehicles are manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C). The vehicles are being advocated for deployment by the Indian Army in forward positions, particularly along the Chinese border in Ladakh.
“Things are in the ‘early stages’ but the US plans to demonstrate the capabilities of the Stryker to the Indian Army at an early opportunity,” a senior US official said in June, according to an ET report.
However, sources have revealed that there has been no significant progress, and no decision has been made regarding the advancement of the procurement process.
Wheels stuck
Over the past year, a concerted effort has been made to market Canadian vehicles to India, with the project being promoted as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘ initiative.
Nevertheless, initial plans that were outlined suggested a direct acquisition of an undisclosed number of vehicles from the Ontario plant, to be followed by co-production with GDLS-C.
These proposals had raised concerns among Indian defence companies that have invested crores of rupees in research and development efforts to create similar vehicles tailored to India’s specific requirements, the report said.
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Industry leaders have expressed their concerns to the government regarding the potential coproduction of the Stryker armored vehicle, emphasizing that indigenous options, designed and developed in collaboration with the armed forces, are readily available. They argue that the Stryker co production would offer little value to the country.
The Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, stands as the most advanced armoured infantry combat vehicle programme within India.
According to the financial daily’s reports, a limited number of WhAP vehicles have already been inducted by the Army for deployment in Ladakh. Moreover, the indigenous platform has been selected for an order from Morocco, and a new manufacturing plant is being established in Casablanca to cater to the broader African market in the long run.
This will mark the first instance of an Indian company setting up a defence plant abroad, capable of manufacturing a complete major platform.
WhAP is a successful example of an indigenously designed public-private partnership. The eight-wheeled platform has been engineered to operate in various terrains, supporting the Indian armed forces deployed in diverse environments ranging from deserts to high-altitude mountain passes and marshy areas.
