BEML Ltd has introduced a 12×12 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) designed and manufactured at its Palakkad facility. The vehicle has been developed for the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence.
The HMV 12×12 is built to operate in challenging terrains and weather conditions. It is powered by a BSIII-compliant engine and is equipped with a 7-speed Allison automatic transmission. The vehicle supports a gross vehicle weight of 65 tons. According to the company, the design and development were carried out through BEML’s Futuristic Product Innovation and Incubation Centre (FPIIC).
The launch event included the participation of Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML, and G. Ramamohana Rao, Director of VRDE, along with officials from both organisations.
BEML stated that the vehicle is intended to enhance mobility for defence operations and was developed with in-house manufacturing capabilities.