The Tata LPTA is a military truck family developed and produced by Indian automobile manufacturer Tata Motors. The trucks are available in 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, 10×10 and 12×12 configurations. With extreme off-road capabilities, they are proposed as replacement for Czech-designed Tatra trucks currently used by Indian Armed Forces.

Tata LPTA
Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s LPTA 715 4X4 Truck for the Indian Army
TypeHeavy/medium tactical truck
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2015–present
Used byIndian Army
Production history
DesignerTata Motors
Designed2012
ManufacturerTata Motors
Produced2015–present
Variants
Specifications
Mass23,000 kg (51,000 lb) (6×6)
27,200 kg (60,000 lb) (8×8)
Crew2/4

Armorup-armour ready
EngineCummins ISLe/ ISXe
6-cylinder inline, water-cooled diesel[5]
155 hp (116 kW) - 525 hp (391 kW)[6]
Payload capacity2.5 tons to 33 tons
TransmissionManual(6×6,8×8)
Automatic (12×12)[7]
SuspensionFront : Parabolic Suspension
Rear : Semi Elliptical Multi Leaf Springs
Fuel capacity400 L (106 US gal)
Operational
range
600 km (loaded)
Maximum speed 80 km/h
Steering
system
Hydraulic Power Steering - Pneumatically Tiltable & Adjustable Telescopic Steering Column, air brakes

History

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The Indian Army is one of the biggest users of Tatra trucks in the world with over 10,000 trucks of various types in service. Because of their high-operational flexibility and functional adaptability they formed the backbone of army's tactical & mobilisation capability. These trucks were license-produced in India by BEML, a public sector company. Following the Tatra bribery scam, a ban was imposed on Tatra and the supply of these trucks stopped. Thus, the development of multi axle tactical trucks was started by Tata to meet Army's requirements.[8]

Design

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TATA LPTA 2038C

The vehicles have cab over engine modular design. The cab can hold two crew and four passengers. There are 2 roof hatches for firing, observation and emergency exit. The trucks are equipped with a hydraulic crane for loading/unloading equipments. They also come with Central tire inflation system which inflates/deflates tyres according to terrain requirements. For driver's comfort, cab is equipped with HVAC.[clarification needed] There is a self recovery winch in the front as well.[9]

The 6×6 and 8×8 variants are powered by a Cummins ISLe engine developing 375 horsepower while the 12×12 variant comes with a Cummins ISXe engine with a maximum of 525 horsepower. 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 variants are mated to a 10 speed (9F+1R) manual transmission while the 12×12 variant comes with an automatic transmission.[6]

Production

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In July 2015, Tata won a contract for supplying 1,239 trucks of 6×6 variant to the Indian Army. In March 2016, an additional order for 619 more trucks was placed. The total order was worth 1300 crores making it the biggest order to a local private supplier.[10]

The 8×8 variant has been proposed to be the platform for pgraded BM-21 Grad MBRL.[11] The Tata LPTA 5252 12×12 variant has been selected as a transporter erector launcher (TEL) for Nirbhay/LR-LACM missile[12], BrahMos and Prahaar missile.[13][14]

Around 15,000 trucks of 4×4 variant are also in service with Indian Army, all manufactured by the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ).[15]

Specifications

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Model Drivetrain Power Cargo capacity Gross weight Variants Notes
713 4×4 115.5 kW (154.9 hp)[16] 2,500 kg (5,500 lb)[17] 7,750 kg (17,090 lb)
1628 4×4 198 kW (266 hp) @ 2500 rpm[18] 7,750 kg (17,090 lb) 5 KL Fuel & Water Bowser, 5T Recovery, Refrigeration truck, Troop Carrier, Command post etc.[18]
1826 6×6 336 kW (451 hp) [19] 7.5T tow[20] 13,945 kg (30,743 lb) Missile Platform, Mounted Gun System, Communication and Radar System, Command Post, Field Artillery Tractor with Crew Cabin, Crash Fire Tender, Fuel Bowser, HMV with Material Handling Crane.[19]
2038 6×6 375 kW (503 hp) @ 2100 rpm 10,500 kg (23,100 lb) 23,000 kg (51,000 lb) 7 KL Refueler System, CGT, HMV with MHC, GRAD BM 21 Rocket Launcher, Tactical communication system [11]
3138 8×8 276 kW (370 hp)[21] 18,000 kg (40,000 lb) 27,200 kg (60,000 lb) Missile Launcher and carrier (Akash ASL)[22][23], Bridge laying system, Command Post and communication system, Truck Mounted Gun, HMV with MHC. [11]
3945 8×8 336 kW (451 hp)[21]
4545 10×10 336 kW (451 hp) Missile Launcher and carrier (Barak 8)[24], Bridge laying system, Command Post and communication system, Truck Mounted Gun, Truck mounted Crane [25]
5252 12×12 525 kW (704 hp) 33,000 kg (73,000 lb)[26] 53,800 kg (118,600 lb) TEL for Nirbhay/LR-LACM missile[12], BrahMos and Prahaar missile.[13][14] [11][27]

References

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  1. ^ "Tata LPTA 716 4×4". Military Today.
  2. ^ "Additional order for Tata LPTA 6×6". CV News.
  3. ^ "Tata LPTA 3138 8×8". Military Today.
  4. ^ "Tata LPTA 5252 Special Wheeled Chassis | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
  5. ^ "Tata 6×6 tech specs" (PDF). Tata Motors.
  6. ^ a b "12×12 tech specs" (PDF). Tata Motors.
  7. ^ "8×8 tech specs" (PDF). Tata Motors.
  8. ^ "Tatra offers force 8×8 to india". CommercialVehicles.in.
  9. ^ "Tata bags order of 1,239 trucks". Overdrive.in.
  10. ^ "Tata bags multi axle truck order". Rushlane. 10 July 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d "Details about Tata Motors' Range of Defence Vehicles". Team-BHP.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Tata Motors' Defence Vehicles" (PDF). DEFEXPO 2012. Tata Motors. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Details about Tata Motors' Range of Defence Vehicles". Team-BHP.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  14. ^ a b Hardy, James (28 October 2013). "ADEX 2013: DRDO shows off Pragati tactical ballistic missile". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.
  15. ^ Deb, Sheershoo (21 October 2020). "List Of Military Trucks Of Indian Army". DefenceXP - Indian Defence Network. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  16. ^ "LPTA 713 TC/32 4x4 BSIII CLB" (PDF). tatamotors.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Defence Load Carrier LPTA 713 | Tata Motors Limited". 15 March 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Tata LPTA 4x4 1628". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Tata LPTA 1828 6x6". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Technical specifications" (PDF). tatamotors.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Tata LPTA 3945 / 3138 8x8". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  22. ^ @DefenceDecode (21 June 2021). "Tata Advanced Systems Limited (#TASL) and @larsentoubro (L&T) have jointly delivered the 100th Akash Air Force Launcher (#AAFL) for the IAF, developed in association with the DRDO" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
  23. ^ "Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL)". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  24. ^ "Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) Mobile Launcher System (MLS)". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Tata LPTA 4545 10x10". Tata Advanced Systems. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  26. ^ Biswas, Kunal [@KunalBiswas007] (6 March 2021). "TATA LPTA 5252 at Aero India 2021, payload 33 tons, 525 HP turbocharged diesel, 7-speed automatic transmission..." (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ @DefenceDecode (7 March 2021). "Tata #LPTA 5252 (12x12 configuration)..." (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via Twitter.