By Staff Correspondent
The Ministry of Defence, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, signed two contracts on January 4, 2024, in New Delhi. The first contract was for 697 Bogie Open Military (BOM) Wagons, valued at 473 Cr, with M/s Jupiter Wagons Limited. The second contract, for mechanical minefield marking equipment (MMME) Mark II, valued at 329 Cr, with M/s BEML Ltd. Manufacturing the BOM Wagons and MMME using equipment and subsystems purchased from domestic suppliers would help bring the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat to fruition by bolstering domestic manufacturing and encouraging private sector involvement in defence production.
The Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) created the specialized Bogie Open Military (BOM) wagons that the Indian Army uses for unit mobilization. Rolling stock, or BOM wagons, move engineering equipment, artillery guns, BMPs, and light vehicles from their resting places to regions where they are needed most during times of conflict. Whether in a time of war or peace, this Critical Rolling Stock will facilitate the rapid and simultaneous introduction of troops and equipment into combat zones, as well as their mobility between stations and military exercises.
According to the modified Protocol-II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which India has signed, it is necessary to mark all minefields. MMME is engineered to run nationwide with full cargo capacity and mark minefields with little time and labour input. Based on an existing High Mobility Vehicle with state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems, the equipment will improve the operational capabilities of the Indian Army and decrease the durations for minefield marking during operations.
