 "Ashok Leyland along with L&T are in L1 for defence supply")
Hinduja Group's flagship company Ashok Leyland Ltd has said that it is betting big on defence business from the domestic market and overseas. The company has said that it has bid for five defence tenders and in one of the tenders along with L&T (Larsen and Toubro Ltd) the company is in L1.
V Sumantran, vice chairman, Ashok Leyland said that the company is part of five defence tenders and with Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) it the L1 (lowest number 1) in one tender with new Super Stallion platform. The company also participated in few tenders with five different global players for different applications. Sumantran refused to disclose the size of the tender.
He said that the project is long term and is intended for testing ready in 2017. Volumes are going to appear after 2020.
Ashok Leyland, the largest private sector supplier for defence, has also come up with new Super Stallion with 350-360 HP compared to earlier Stallion vehicle, which had 200-300 HP.
He added, so far mostly the company was depend on the Stallion platform and now decided to with another platform Super Stallion, which is significantly bigger platform 6X6, 8X8.
“This will fulfill the role played by Tatra models and these vehicles helped us to get entry into this,” said Sumantran. The company also said it would look at exporting Super Stallion platform.
He also said the company is a partner or part of a consortium or sub-system provider for 150mm mounted gun system on a truck. It may be noted, Ashok Leyland joined hands with French major Panhard General Defence to develop COLT 4x4 light tactical armoured vehicle.
Company's defence business in 2012-13 was impacted due to cutbacks by the Government. The company Completely Built Unit (CBU) sales Dom in fiscal 2013 was 325 as compared to 352 and VFJ Kits (nos) + MPV kits was at 2463 units as compared to 2981 units. Exports rose to 22 units from 18. The company attributed slow procurement by VFJ and government cut backs for the drop.