Indian Army RFI for Indigenous Mortar Specialist Vehicle Shows Make in India Push

The Indian Army has floated a Request for Information (RFI) seeking indigenous development of a specialist mortar carrier vehicle, signalling accelerated progress toward eliminating dependence on foreign platforms for critical fire support systems.

The RFI calls for an indigenously designed and manufactured vehicle capable of transporting and deploying mortars across diverse terrain. This move aligns with the Army’s broader strategic focus on self-reliance in weapon platforms and ammunition handling systems, a cornerstone of India’s defence modernisation roadmap.

India has historically relied on a mix of towed and self-propelled mortars across its inventory. The 81mm and 120mm mortars remain backbone indirect fire assets at battalion and regimental level, deployed across the Northern, Eastern, and Central commands. A specialist carrier vehicle would streamline deployment logistics, reduce crew exposure during repositioning, and enhance rapid-fire capability in counter-insurgency and conventional operations.

The RFI reflects lessons from recent field deployments and exercise feedback. During high-altitude operations in Ladakh and counter-insurgency missions in the Northeast, the mobility and protection constraints of towed platforms became evident. A purpose-built carrier would integrate ammunition management, fire control systems, and crew protection in a single mobile platform.

Several Indian defence manufacturers and DRDO labs are likely to respond to this RFI. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and private sector firms including Ashok Leyland, Tata Advanced Systems, and Mahindra Defence have demonstrated capability in military platform development. The timeline for prototype validation and trials typically spans 18–24 months from RFI closure.

This initiative sits within a larger Army modernisation effort that has accelerated since 2020. The service is actively seeking indigenous alternatives for self-propelled gun systems, air defence platforms, and bridge-laying vehicles. Each RFI represents a deliberate shift away from imported solutions toward domestic design and manufacturing.

The mortar specialist vehicle also carries implications for India’s defence exports and technology partnerships. A successful design could be offered to friendly nations and regional partners, supporting India’s growing role as a defence technology supplier in the Indian Ocean region and South Asia.