TATA Kestrel

The Indian army currently has large fleet of BMP-1s, BMP-2s, 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 evolved in Western nations.

To keep pace with these vehicles, need of a modern design of APC was felt for long time. Tata motors and DRDO developed this vehicle in partnership to meet army requirements.

In October 2019 Indian Defence ministry cleared it for production and export to friendly nations.

200 planned by Indian Army

Development of WhAP 8 x 8 Amphibious Wheeled Armoured Vehicle was taken up to provide common platform for various vehicle type like Wheeled APC, 30 mm Infantry Combat Vehicle, 105 mm Light Tank, command post vehicle, ambulance, special purpose platform, 120 mm mortar carrier, CBRN Vehicle based on the same chasis of Kestrel.[2]

Kestrel is designed for modern day warfare keeping in mind the crew survivability, protection against small arms fire, mobility and protection against concealed explosives. The armour is made up of applique and composites along with welded steels. Additional armour kit can be applied in heavy firing zones. The hull floor is further strengthened to defeat mines and similar explosives. The seats are attached to the roof for improved blast protection. Fuel tanks are placed outside the troop compartment for additional safety.

The 8X8 wheel configuration is set on a hydropneumatic suspension utilizing double wishbone arrangement. All wheels have run flat capability to allow the vehicle to move even after suffering punctures. There are four axles, the front axle is steerable which minimizes the turning radius of the vehicle.

The glacis plate is very shallow, and the fuel tank is mounted outside the vehicle to improve survivability. A standard operating crew of two including driver and commander, with a full mechanized squad of 12 members.

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.[3]

The vehicle has been designed to provide protection against land mines, meeting level III, STANAG 4569. 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.[4]

As tensions continue to escalate between India and China over the de facto Line of Actual Control, DRDO-TATA Kestrel (WhAP) which was till recently in photos only, landed at Ladakh undergoing cold-weather trials.[5]

The standard turret installation can accommodate a roof-mounted remote controlled Kongsberg Protector MCT-30R(RWS). Usually the vehicle is fitted with a 30 mm autocannon. This cannon could fire armor-piercing incendiary (API), high-explosive incendiary (HEI) and armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds. It has an effective range of 3,000 m. It is also fitted with 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

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.[6]

In the 2016 Defexpo convention, a Kestrel was seen outfitted with the BMP-2 turret.[7] It's known as the WhAP (Wheeled Amphibious Platform).[8]

• TATA Introduces the Kestrel – an 8×8 Amphibious Armored Fighting Vehicle at Defence-Update.com