TATA Kestrel

The TATA Kestrel, also known as the IPMV (Infantry

TATA Kestrel
Protected Mobility Vehicle), is a family of armoured
personnel carriers developed by Tata Advanced
Systems and the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO). It was developed to replace
Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 and APCs in service
with the Indian Army.[3]

History
The Indian Army currently has large fleet of BMP-1,
BMP-2, and various types of APCs of Soviet origin.
Over time, these vehicles have become obsolete and
incapable of taking on the challenge of modern-day
warfare. At the same time many superior designs have TATA Kestral prototype with BMP-2 turret
evolved in Western nations. Tata Motors and DRDO Type Wheeled armored
developed the Kestrel vehicle in partnership with personnel carrier
Supacat to meet army requirements.[4]
Place of origin India
The vehicle was first shown at the Defexpo 2014 Service history
convention, showing a Kongsberg PROTECTOR In service 2017-Present
MCT-30R turret and a M151 Remote Weapon Station Used by Indian Army
equipped with Javelin.[2]
Production history
In October 2019, the Indian Ministry of Defence Designer
Defence Research
cleared the Kestrel for production and export to friendly
and Development
nations. The Indian Army planned to acquire 200
Organisation
Kestrels.[5]
Tata Advanced
Systems Limited
Operational history
Manufacturer Tata Advanced Systems
As tensions continue to escalate between India and Limited
China over the de facto Line of Actual Control,
Produced 2014-Present
DRDO-TATA Kestrel (WhAP), landed at Ladakh to
No. built 27 Delivered
undergo cold-weather trials.[6] The first batch of
WhAP's were inducted into the army on 12 April Specifications (TATA Kestrel)
2022.[7] Mass 24 tonnes (26 tons)
Length 7.85 metres (25.8 ft)
Width 3.00 metres (9.84 ft)
Height 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in)
Crew 3+ 9 passengers
WhAP is also being delivered to Central Reserve Police
Force.[8] Armor Applique and composites
along with welded steel
Design Modular armour for
ballistic protection
Development of WhAP 8 × 8 Amphibious Wheeled
ranging between
Armoured Vehicle was taken up to provide common
stanag level I to IV
platform for various vehicle type like Wheeled APC,
30 mm Infantry Combat Vehicle, 105 mm Light Tank, And Mine protection of
command post vehicle, ambulance, special purpose level III
platform, 120 mm mortar carrier, CBRN Vehicle based Main 30mm automatic cannon
on the same chassis of Kestrel.[9] armament
Secondary 7.62 mm coaxial
Kestrel is designed for modern day warfare keeping in armament machine gun
mind the crew survivability, protection against small
arms fire, mobility and protection against concealed Engine Cummins ISXe 600
explosives. The armour is made up of applique and diesel engine
composites along with welded steels. Additional 600 Hp @ 1800-
armour kit can be applied in heavy firing zones. The 2000RPM / 2508nm
hull floor is further strengthened to defeat mines and torque @ 1100-
similar explosives. The seats are attached to the roof for 1600RPM
improved blast protection. Fuel tanks are placed outside Power/weight 23hp/ton
the troop compartment for additional safety. Transmission Allison 4500SP
automatic transmission
The 8X8 wheel configuration is set on a
Suspension Live axle with
hydropneumatic suspension utilizing double wishbone
Independent
arrangement. All wheels have run flat capability to
Hydropneumatic
allow the vehicle to move even after suffering
suspension
punctures. There are four axles, the front axle is
steerable which minimizes the turning radius of the Ground clearance 0.45 meters
vehicle. Operational 500km (Onroad)
range 250km (Offroad)
The glacis plate is very shallow, and the fuel tank is
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) on
mounted outside the vehicle to improve survivability. A
road
standard operating crew of two including driver and
10 km/h (6.2 mph) in
commander, with a full mechanized squad of 12
water
members.[1] Anti-blast seats are installed to absorb any
[1][2]
shocks and secondary slams, reducing brain and spinal References

injuries.[2]

Engine is placed at front left. Passengers are placed in the centerline

in a back-to-back fashion, each facing a firing port.The Kestrel has
high power-to-weight ratio for mountainous terrain and is powered
by a 600 hp turbocharged diesel engine. The vehicle is fully
amphibious, propelled by two waterjets.[10] It can reach up to
100 km/h.[4] WHAP undergoing high speed
maneuver test.
The vehicle has been designed to provide protection against land mines. It ranges from Stanag 4569 Level I
to Level IV[2] with the hull being designed with protection up to Stanag Level III.[11] The hull
configuration evolved follows a 'V’-type bottom with double configuration consisting of an inner panel and
bottom panel. The bottom panel is designed to deflect the blast energy and get deformed to minimize the
blast effects.[1]

Snap-on modules are used in the Kestrel in order to easily configure it according to needed roles in the
field.[11]

The vehicle has been fitted with INS and GPS as its primary navigation equipment and is also fitted with
Modular (UHF, VHF, HF) communication systems. [12]

Weapons
The standard turret installation can accommodate a roof-mounted remote controlled Kongsberg Protector
MCT-30R(RWS), which is outfitted with a 30 mm autocannon.[2] It has an effective range of 3,000 m. The
turret also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.[2]

The RCWS adds a heavy 12.7mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. It also has option
for adding up to two anti-tank guided missile launcher in quick fire mode. So, the vehicle is capable of
countering enemy infantry, light armoured vehicles even main battle tanks.[13]

In the 2016 Defexpo convention, a Kestrel was seen outfitted with the BMP-2 turret.[14] Its known as the
WhAP (Wheeled Amphibious Platform).[15]

Variant
Planned variants include ambulance, NBC recon, Command Post and engineer vehicle.[2]

Operators
India

Indian Army[16]
Central Reserve Police Force[17]

References
1. DRDO, Technology Focus. "WHAP SPECIFICATIONS" (https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/defaul
t/files/technology-focus-documrnt/TF_June_2019_WEB_0.pdf) (PDF).
2. "Kestrel 8x8 amphibious armoured vehicle platform technical data sheet specifications
pictures video | India Indian army wheeled armoured vehicle UK | India Indian army military
equipment vehicle UK" (https://www.armyrecognition.com/india_indian_army_wheeled_arm
oured_vehicle_uk/kestrel_8x8_amphibious_armoured_vehicle_platform_technical_data_sh
eet_specifications_pictures_video.html).
3. Ghoshal, Adreesh (10 September 2020). "The Tata Kestrel- All You need To Know" (https://a
dreesh-ghoshal.medium.com/the-tata-kestrel-all-you-need-to-know-585868961094).
Medium. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
 4. "The Indian army test-drives Kestrel" (https://businessindia.co/magazine/the-indian-army-test
-drives-kestrel).
5. And Now, Indian Army Wants 200 Wheeled Armoured Vehicles For Pak Border (https://www.l
ivefistdefence.com/2019/12/and-now-indian-army-wants-200-wheeled-armoured-vehicles-fo
r-pak-border.html)
6. "Kestrel 8x8 Wheeled Armored Amphibious Platform (WHAP)" (https://www.globalsecurity.or
g/military/world/india/kestrel.htm). www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
7. Bureau, The Hindu (12 April 2022). "Tata firm hands over indigenously developed infantry
vehicles to Army Chief" (https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tata-firm-hands-over-indige
nously-developed-infantry-vehicles-to-army-chief/article65315246.ece). The Hindu.
ISSN 0971-751X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X). Retrieved 12 April 2022.
8. Defenceadmin (29 March 2022). "TATA Kestrel: Forces To Get New Armoured Vehicles As
Army Upgrades Mobility" (https://defenceaviationpost.com/tata-kestrel-forces-to-get-new-arm
oured-vehicles-as-army-upgrades-mobility/). Retrieved 30 March 2022.
9. "Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) | Defence Research and Development Organisation -
DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India" (https://www.drdo.gov.in/wheeled-armoure
d-platform-whap). www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
10. "Kestrel Armored Personnel Carrier" (http://www.military-today.com/apc/kestrel.htm). military-
today.com. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
11. "Tata Kestrel: An armoured, 8×8, amphibious carrier" (https://www.overdrive.in/news-cars-aut
o/features/the-tata-kestrel-personnel-carrier/).
12. "Kestrel Wheeled Armored Amphibious Platform" (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachme
nts/commercial-vehicles/1412273d1441779575-kestrel-lamv-tatas-defence-vehicles-detaile
d-kestrel.pdf) (PDF). Tata Motors Limited: 4.
13. "TATA Motors Kestrel - 8x8 Amphibious Armored Fighting Vehicle" (http://www.militaryfactory.
com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=699). militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
14. "U.S. Propose to India to develop a new APC armoured personnel carrier | February 2018
Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army
2018 | Archive News year" (https://www.armyrecognition.com/february_2018_global_defens
e_security_army_news_industry/u.s._propose_to_india_to_develop_a_new_apc_armoured
_personnel_carrier.html).
15. "New WhAP Wheeled Amphibious Platform 8x8 armoured at DefExpo 2018 | DefExpo 2018
India News Show Daily | Defence security military exhibition 2018 daily news category" (htt
p://www.armyrecognition.com/defexpo_2018_india_news_show_daily/new_whap_wheeled
_amphibious_platform_8x8_armoured_at_defexpo_2018.html).
16. "Indigenously developed specialist vehicles inducted into Army by Gen Naravane" (https://th
eprint.in/india/indigenously-developed-specialist-vehicles-inducted-into-army-by-gen-narava
ne/913585/). ThePrint. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
17. "Indian police first to receive Tata Kestrel WhAP 8x8 armoured vehicles | Defense News
March 2022 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army
year 2022 | Archive News year" (https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_march_20
22_global_security_army_industry/indian_police_first_to_receive_tata_kestrel_whap_8x8_a
rmoured_vehicles.html).

External links
Official website (https://www.tatamotors.com/product/defence-combat-wheeled-infantry-comb
at-vehicle-kstrel/)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TATA_Kestrel&oldid=1208312009"