Mahindra Mine Protected Vehicle: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}

{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}

The '''Mahindra Mine Protected Vehicle-I''' (MPV-I), is an [[India]]n [[MRAP]]-type [[armored personnel carrier]] manufactured by [[Defense Land Systems]], a joint-venture of [[Mahindra & Mahindra Limited]] and [[BAE Systems]], the first vehicle made under the venture.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.spslandforces.com/story.asp?id=35 |title = A Success Story - SP's Land Forces}}</ref> It is an improved [[Casspir]] variant built under licence.<ref name=SurviveRide>{{cite book|last1=Camp|first1=Steve|last2=Helmoed-Römer|first2=Heitman|title=Surviving the Ride: A pictorial history of South African Manufactured Mine-Protected vehicles|date=November 2014|page=240|publisher=30 Degrees South|location=Pinetown|isbn=978-1928211-17-4}}</ref>

The MPV debuted in 2010, with the design aimed at protection of Indian security forces conducting [[anti-terrorism]] and anti-[[Naxalite]] operations in India's rugged forested and hilly terrains.<ref>http://www.mahindra.com/news-room/press-release/1293708041</ref> It is powered by a ruggedized 230 HP [[diesel engine]], paired with a [[6x6]] [[transmission (mechanics)|transmission]].<ref name="ZW">{{Cite web | url=https://www.zigwheels.com/reviews-advice/reviews/mahindra-defence-systems-mpvi-first-drive/9500/ | title=Mahindra Defence Systems MPV-I : First Drive}}</ref>

The MPV offers [[armored]] protection to its crew and passengers against ballistic and [[land mine]] threats. It uses a [[V-hull|V-shaped hull]] of steel and [[monocoque]] construction to direct the force of the blast away from the occupants under a Ural truck chassis.<ref name="ZW"/> It has been tested to protect against [[7.62×51mm NATO]], [[7.62×39mm]] Soviet and [[5.56×45mm NATO]] rounds from a 10m distance.<ref name="ZW"/> It can withstand 21&nbsp;kg of [[TNT equivalent]] explosions directly under any wheel, and 14&nbsp;kg of TNT equivalent explosions directly under the crew compartment.<ref name="Strat">{{Cite web | url=http://www.stratpost.com/defense-land-systems-india-shows-off-mine-protected-vehicle | title=Mine Protected Vehicle displayed| date=15 February 2010}}</ref>

In October 2011, the [[CRPF]] reported that it had reduced the use of MPVs in operations against Naxalites, since some of the [[improvised explosive device]]s were of up to 80&nbsp;kg, far above the 21&nbsp;kg limit that the vehicles were designed to withstand<ref name=msn-mpvcoffin>{{Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Security-forces-asked-to-shun-armoured-vehicles-in-Naxal-areas/articleshow/10382187.cms |title = Security forces asked to shun armoured vehicles in Naxal areas &#124; India News - Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/anti-mine-vehicles-reduced-to-coffin-on-wheels_736033.html |title = Anti-mine vehicles reduced to 'coffin on wheels'|date = 11 October 2011}}</ref> due to IEDs and not against anti-tank mines.<ref>Camp & Heitman, p. 239</ref> They were only used in limited roles, such as evacuating casualties.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/crpf-shifts-mpvs-from-naxal-grid-to-kashmir-for-better-convoy-security/articleshow/52925556.cms | title=CRPF shifts MPVS from Naxal grid to Kashmir for better convoy security| newspaper=The Economic Times| date=13 July 2018}}</ref>