Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) has started the deliveries of Armado – a modular type vehicle that can be upgraded or configured to suit a wide variety of operational roles – to the Indian armed forces.
Armado, an Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV) designed and developed by Mahindra & Mahindra, can be used in counter-terrorist operations such as patrolling high-intensity areas, special forces operations and quick reaction teams. Its other uses include being a weapon carrier, a reconnaissance vehicle, a border security vehicle and being used in raids in open or desert terrains.
The vehicle has a 3.2-litre, turbocharged, direct-injection diesel engine that can also run on NATO-grade diesel. The engine produces 215 hp and 500 Nm of torque and power is delivered to all four wheels via a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The Armado has a claimed top speed of over 120 kph and a 0-60 kph time of 12 seconds, and has a payload capacity of 1,000 kg. It offers ballistic protection up to B7, Stanag Level II.
According to MDS, Armado features Bilstein independent suspension for all four corners and gets 318/80 R17 tyres, which can also run without air or a puncture for up to 50 km. It has a centralised tyre inflation system, a power steering system, and can be configured to be either left-hand drive or right-hand drive.
Along with a seating capacity of six passengers that can be configured to seat up to eight, the vehicle has a public address (PA) system, GPS, automatic grenade launcher, electric winch, HF/UHF/VHF radio and a self-cleaning-type exhaust scavenging and air filtration system for dusty climates.
