Bharat Forge has received an order of close to INR 178 crores from the Ministry of Defence in India to supply the Kalyani M4 armoured vehicles to the Indian army. The order for the armoured vehicles have been received under the Emergency Procurement Route by the Government of India and is likely to be deployed at the Indo-China border.
Vehicle Testing and Deployment
The Kalyani M4 armoured vehicle is under testing in the Himalayan region of Ladakh since August 2020 and is an ideal troop carrier for the high altitude region. The all-terrain vehicle is capable of carrying 8 personnel or 2.5 tonnes payload in and out of regions where armoured track vehicles will be slower in pace. This allows the defence force to reach or evacuate an area in a swift manner.
Protection Capabilities
The Kalyani M4 features a reinforced floor that offers protection from ballistic weapons such as land mines, IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) on the ground as well as side protection from blasts equivalent to 50 kgs of TNT. The Kalyani M4 features glass ports on the doors to view the surroundings and are capable of withstanding fire from a sniper rifle and anti-material rounds. The vehicle also comes with a driver-assist camera system, run-flat tyres, HEPA filters and airconditioning systems.
Capabilities
The Kalyani M4 can traverse through a wide range of terrain thanks to the 43-degree approach angle, a 44-degree departure angle, and a water fording capacity of 900mm. The vehicle can also withstand harsh weather conditions and is capable of operating in -20 degrees celsius to 50-degrees celsius. The Kalyani M4 is also an intimidating vehicle and stands tall at 2450mm and come with a width of 2500mm.
Powertrain
Powering the Kalyani M4 is a six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 465 Hp of power and whips out 1627 Nm of torque enabling the vehicle to power out from any situation. The engine features a CVT automatic gearbox and a four-wheel-drive system with a pneumatic differential lock on the front, rear and transfer case. The M4 is capable of achieving a top speed of 140 kmph and comes with a driving range of 800 km on a single tank of fuel.
