Love the sight of that Indian badge on these! Like those photos of the Nexter CAESAR I posted yesterday, here’s the Saab BAMSE air defence system strapped onto the trusty Ashok Leyland 8×8 Super Stallion truck platform. Saab and India’s Ashok Leyland announced this week at Defexpo that this new system would be fielded for the Indian Army’s SR-SAM requirement.
In a statement, Saab said, “The BAMSE SRSAM is described as an all-weather, all-target, air defence missile system that can be deployed to protect fixed and mobile assets. Ashok Leyland will deliver high-mobility vehicles to transport the BAMSE SRSAM solution. All sub-units within the BAMSE SRSAM are being integrated with the Ashok Leyland Super Stallion 8×8, a high-mobility vehicle capable of operating in all types of terrain under all weather conditions.”
Saab’s Head of Market Area India Lars-Olof Lindgren says, “The tie-up brings together two great engineering companies with front-end technologies that together could serve the Indian Army well. The BAMSE is a proven air defence missile system and the Ashok Leyland platform is a very suitable all-terrain vehicle. The need for mobility for air defence units is essential for flexible and optimal deployment. We are very happy to find a robust vehicle in Ashok Leyland’s product range that meets the requirements. We look forward to working closely with the company to deliver to the needs of the Indian Army.” Dr. V. Sumantran, Vice-Chairman of Ashok Leyland says: “We are pleased to announce this cooperation with Saab and together we are able to offer the Indian defence forces, state-of-the-art air defence systems based on proven technologies. Saab is a recognised technology leader and in the BAMSE Saab has a very advanced and capable system. Ashok Leyland has a proven track record of serving the mobility needs of the Indian armed forces for over three decades. Our Super-Stallion 8×8 platform will offer the best combination of performance and reliability”.
The full BAMSE SRSAM system includes the GIRAFFE AMB, a powerful 3D surveillance radar and command and control system intended for short and medium-range ground based air defence and the BAMSE MCC missile launcher with six ready-to-fire missiles.