According to a tweet posted by SP Shukla on June 17, Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) started deliveries of Armado, India’s first Specialist Vehicle designed, developed and built in the country for te Indian armed forces that should receive 1,300 of these officially designated Light Specialist Vehicles (LSpVs) from Mahindra Defence.
The armored LSpV “Armado” underwent rigorous ballistic testing, including assessments against 7.62 x 51mm bullets and HE36 hand grenade blasts. It provides Level I ballistic protection, with the flexibility to upgrade to Level B7 and STANAG Level II standards. It successfully passed numerous survivability tests and played a vital role in the Government Defence Force’s extensive 18-month test program.
Featuring a robust design, the Mahindra LSpV boasts a load-carrying capacity of 400 kg. Its storage area is specifically designed to accommodate various weapons. The Armado has a seating capacity of six passengers, including the driver, and can be configured to seat up to eight. Powering the vehicle is a Steyr 3.2-litre, 6-cylinder multi-fuel turbodiesel engine that delivers 215hp at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 500Nm (it that can run on NATO-grade diesel). The engine is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, with the option of a 6-speed automatic available.