View source for Ashok Leyland Defence Systems

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{buzzword|date=September 2011}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Limited
| logo = AL Defence Logo.jpg
| logo_size = 199px
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| key_people = Amandeep Singh (Head Defence),
Atul Andley (Head Domestic Sales)
Ratan Shrivastava (Exports)
| industry = [[Military]]
| products = [[Military Vehicles]] <br /> [[Engines]]
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Hinduja Group]]
| subsid =
| website = [http://defence.ashokleyland.com/ Ashok Leyland Defence - Home]
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|2008|3|18}}
| location = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
}}

'''Ashok Leyland Defence Systems''' is a [[Hinduja Group]] company involved in manufacturing military trucks such as the widely used [[Ashok Leyland Stallion|Stallion]] troop carriers.

== History ==

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems was floated on 18 March 2008. Hinduja Group's flagship company [[Ashok Leyland]] holds 26 percent in the newly formed company. Ashok Leyland has been involved in the design, development and manufacture of vehicles for the Indian armed forces. Ashok Leyland is ranked among the world's largest producers of medium duty defence vehicles today.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.odiengroup.com/_img/press-releases/19_07_06.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617014104/http://www.odiengroup.com/_img/press-releases/19_07_06.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ashok Leyland's defence vehicles are serving armed forces in ground support roles from troop carriers to special application logistical and tactical vehicles. Its diesel engines have been used to power vehicles, boats, cranes, ground starter aggregates, compressors and generators.

Ashok Leyland has supported the modernization of the Indian Army by developing a host of logistical vehicles with military payloads ranging from 1.5 to 16 tonnes for Light Specialty Vehicles (LSV), Mine Protected Vehicles (MPV), General Services Role, Light Recovery Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Fire Fighting Trucks, Field Artillery Tractors and other special applications.

Ashok Leyland Defence has a rich heritage of association with defence forces around the world through its association with Leyland and AVIA.<ref>{{cite web|author=Minion Interactive |url=http://www.avia.cz/en/avia/ashok-leyland/ |title=Ashok Leyland |publisher=Avia.cz |date=2013-06-17 |access-date=2015-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714172435/http://www.avia.cz/en/avia/ashok-leyland/ |archive-date=14 July 2015 }}</ref> The Mk VIII Centaur tanks which were built at Leyland taking part in the Italian campaign in 1943. While the [[OT-64 SKOT|OT 64]] Czech armoured carrier's chassis units were manufactured by AVIA in 1963.

==Operations==
===India===

Ashok Leyland has extended its automotive expertise to the defence sector, for over three decades, and has been a pioneer in the design, development and manufacture of special vehicles, serving the Indian Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl-com/south-africa-and-india-lead-the-way-in-protection-for-armed-forces/5501/ |title=South Africa and India lead the way in protection for the armed forces - News - Shephard |publisher=Shephardmedia.com |date=2010-02-18 |access-date=2015-07-14}}</ref> Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd. (ALDS) shares this heritage and association with global defence markets.

===Global===

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd. (ALDS) also leverages Ashok Leyland's in-house R&D base, its collaboration with global technology leaders and Ashok Leyland's state-of-the-art plants in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashokleyland.com/manufacturingfacilities |title=Manufacturing Facilities |publisher=Ashok Leyland |access-date=2015-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112143959/http://www.ashokleyland.com/manufacturingfacilities |archive-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd. (ALDS) also works with associate companies (Hinduja Group Companies) AVIA (Prague, Czech Republic), Optare (Leeds, UK), Defiance (Detroit, USA), Hinduja Foundries (Chennai, India) and AlbonAir (Dortmund, Germany) to leverage their capabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hindujagroup.com/news/press-articles/20070413.html |title=Media Room :: |publisher=Hinduja Group |access-date=2015-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012192916/http://hindujagroup.com/news/press-articles/20070413.html |archive-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Products ==

They have logistical vehicles with military payloads ranging from 1.5 to 16 tonnes for Light Specialty Vehicles (LSV), Mine Protected Vehicles (MPV), General Services Role, Light Recovery Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Fire Fighting Trucks, Field Artillery Tractors and other special applications. It also has tactical vehicles designed for combat and offensive roles such as Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs).

===''Stallion''===
[[File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Stallion Truck for the Indian Army.jpg|thumb|[[Vehicle Factory Jabalpur|Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)]]'s Stallion 4X4 Truck for the Indian Army]]
The ''[[Ashok Leyland Stallion|Stallion]]'' is a medium duty defence vehicle with multiple logistical, tactical and special purpose applications. The Stallion 4x4 and Stallion 6x6 are operation across climatic zones such as Alpine, Subtropical, Tropical and Arid zones. The Stallion is used by the Indian Army across the varied climate and terrain of India from coastal operations to high altitude bases, from deserts to snow covered mountainous regions. The Stallion forms the logistical backbone of the Indian Armed Forces with over 60,000 Stallions used by the Indian Army, all manufactured at the [[Vehicle Factory Jabalpur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/ashok-leyland-defence-arm-ties-up-with-kraussmaffei/753566/0 |title=Ashok Leyland defence arm ties up with Krauss-Maffei |publisher=The Financial Express|date=2011-02-23 |access-date=2015-07-14}}</ref> The Stallion is built for use in harsh environments and for easy maintenance in regions where supporting infrastructure may be missing. The [[Sri Lanka Army]] also uses Stallions.

====''Super Stallion''====
The Super Stallion is an uprated version of the Stallion. The 6x6 is rated at 10 tonnes while the 8x8 is rated at 12 tonnes.<ref name="ashokleyland1">{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.ashokleyland.com/products.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603070902/http://www.defence.ashokleyland.com/products.html |archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref>

===''Rhino''===
{{distinguish|Rhino Runner}}
''Rhino'' is a medium to heavy duty defence vehicle with logistical and tactical applications.

===''Fox''===
''Fox'' is a light specialist defence vehicle with logistical and tactical applications.

===FAT===
{{main|Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6}}

===Special Purpose Vehicles===
Special Purpose Vehicles for military applications such as armoured bus transport, [[fire appliance]] and mine protected vehicles.

===End-to-End Logistical Defence Solution===

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS) provides an end-to-end logistical defence solution with the Stallion 4x4 and Stallion 6x6. The End-to-End Defence Vehicle Solutions include modular packages such as Fleet Management System, vehicle maintenance kits, driver training packages, electronic publications along with global warehouse support.

==Strategic Partnerships==

;Krauss-Maffei Wegmann

Hinduja Group's floated Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd (ALDS) (floated on 18 March 2008), India and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) GmbH and Co KG, Germany, jointly develop advanced defence systems for Indian defence establishment as well as other defence forces worldwide. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the companies, includes scope in development of artillery systems, combat systems, armoured wheeled vehicles, recovery vehicles, bridge laying systems and other similar products.<ref>{{cite web|author=Our Bureau |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article1480718.ece |title=Ashok Leyland Defence, KMW of Germany join hands to make equipment &#124; Business Line |publisher=Thehindubusinessline.com |access-date=2015-07-14}}</ref> Dr V. Sumantran, Chairman, Ashok Leyland Defence Systems, said the partnership brings together the technological bandwidth of KMW and Ashok Leyland's innovations aimed at cost advantage and expands ALDS' product opportunities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ashok-leyland-set-for-bigger-role-in-indian-defence-sector/428754/ |title=Ashok Leyland set for bigger role in Indian defence sector &#124; Business Standard News |work=Business Standard|date=2011-03-17 |access-date=2015-07-14}}</ref> Mr Frank Haun, CEO and President, KMW, said the partnership will support KMW's plans to internationalise its business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports-5041 |title=Defense19 |publisher=India-defence.com |access-date=2015-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Ashok-Leyland-KMW-sign-MoU-on-strategic-partnership/articleshow/7549929.cms?referral=PM|title = Ashok Leyland, KMW sign MoU on strategic partnership - Times of India|website = [[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

; Paramount Group

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS) has signed up with the Paramount Group, South Africa for the development and manufacture of Mine Protected Vehicles in India. Initially basic components manufactured in South Africa would be used to assemble the vehicles in India before the production line there starts making all components. The new vehicle combines the specification of two Paramount mine-resistant vehicles, the Marauder and the Matador, with the Ashok Leyland's basic four-wheel drive military vehicle Stallion.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/54558/ashok-leyland-paramount-ink-defence.html| title = Ashok Leyland, Paramount ink defence deal {{!}} Deccan Herald| date = 24 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ashok-leyland-paramount-ink-defence-deal/16/54/86663/on|title=Ashok Leyland, Paramount ink defence deal|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=24 February 2010|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/ashok-leyland-paramount-ink-defence-deal/3875.html|title = Ashok Leyland, Paramount ink defence deal}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{Official|http://defence.ashokleyland.com/}}

[[Category:Ashok Leyland]]
[[Category:Military vehicle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Diesel engine manufacturers]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]