Ashok Leyland bags $10.5 million order for army trucks from Honduras
17 Jan 2009
The Hinduja Group flagship company, Ashok Leyland, has bagged a $10.5 million order for 139 vehicles from the Honduras Armed Forces (HAF). According to HAF, the vehicles will augment the transport resources of the HAF to carry out key poverty eradication programmes and for other humanitarian purposes.
The tender is financed under an EXIM Bank of India line of credit.
According to a statement from the company, Ashok Leyland will supply a range of vehicles that include the 4x4 Stallion trucks, the 4x4 Topchi trucks, 4930 Tractor and Falcon Long Bus (both a/c and non versions). All these vehicles will be Left Hand Drives.
"This order marks our foray into Latin America which has been one of our target markets," said R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland. "This order is hard-won since our vehicles have to undergo very extensive and strenuous trials on terrains and in conditions where they have to be employed. It is also heartening to note that our vehicles are going to be used for humanitarian purposes by the Honduras Armed Forces," he added.
The company also mentioned Thailand as another recent breakthrough. Following trials, the Stallion 4x4 and Stallion 6x6 have been approved by the Royal Thai Army and an initial lot of 10 Stallion 6x6 vehicles have already been supplied.
Ashok Leyland is already the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian Army with over 50,000 of them in use. These include the Stallion 4x4 vehicles that form the service's logistics backbone.
The company says it has a comprehensive range of vehicles featuring the Stallion 4x4, Stallion 6x6, Stallion Aquatherma – a specially-designed water bowzer, Light Recovery Vehicle (LRV) 4x4, Topchi 4x4, Field Artillery Truck (FAT) 6x6, Crash Fire Tender (CFT) 6x6, Truck Fire Fighter (TFF) 4x2 and Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV).
According to the company, all these designs are tried and tested in altitudes ranging from sea-level to over 5,500 metres and in temperatures ranging from -35 degree Celsius to +55 degree Celsius.
