Tata Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV) launched
Other vehicles on display include the Armoured Tata Safari, Light Armoured Troop Carrier with Remote Controlled Weapon Station and the versatile battlefield[COLOR=black] mobility solution, Tata 8x8 HMV [/COLOR]

Tata Motors today displayed its new range of tactical and armoured vehicles at the Defence Expo 2008. This range showcases the company's expertise in providing a wide range of military mobility solutions. The company launched its Tata Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV) at the Defence Expo.

Tata Motors has been providing defence solutions for over five decades. The company's range of products on display at the Defence Expo showcases the company's expertise in developing vehicles that meet the entire spectrum of needs of the military and para military forces. Tata Motors' products have been designed and customised as per evolving needs of the modern military forces. The Tata LSV is one such platform, which is adaptable to multiple roles, depending on the mission.

Tata Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV): The Tata LSV, with a 1.2 tonne payload, built to latest military standards, is a single platform to undertake diverse missions such as reconnaissance, counter insurgency operations for special forces and even as an ambulance. The Tata LSV's versatility enables it to perform on the major parameters of Mobility, Survivability, Stealth, Lethality, Transportability and Maintainability as per the demands of a modern military force.

The Tata LSV has an adaptive automatic transmission, 60% gradeability, 300 mm vertical obstacle climbing ability, 45% approach angle, 45% departure angle, 255 mm ground clearance. The vehicle can operate in a temperature range of ¿20 degree to +55 degree Celsius. The maximum speed of the vehicle is 105 km/hr.

The Tata LSV can be adapted depending on the requirement, to offer any or all of the following:

Light Multipurpose Reconnaissance Vehicle (LAM)
Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle
LSV with Protection for Counter Insurgency Operations
Observation Post (OP) Party Vehicle
Field Artillery Tractor (FAT) for Para Field Artillery Regiments
Recce Vehicle for Gun Position Officer (GPO) for Artillery Regiments
Recce, Surveillance & Ghatak Platoon Vehicle for Infantry
Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle
Common Utility Communication Vehicle
Ambulance Vehicle
Field Repair Team Vehicle
Para (SF) and BC/OC Parties of Para Field Regiment
Low Level Lightweight Radar for Air Defence Artillery
IGLA Carrier for Air Defence Artillery
Coverer Vehicle for Air Defence Artillery
LSV-based Light Radio Vehicle/Communication Rover for Signals
LSV for Tactical Satellite Terminals for Signals
Shelter for Unit Entity Vehicle for Signals
Cable Utility Vehicle for Corps of Signals
Shelter for Unit Field Wireless System for Corps of Signals

[COLOR=black]Other vehicles on display include:[/COLOR]


Light Armoured Troop Carrier (LATC) with RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon Station): The LATC is designed for movement of troops of section strength for counter insurgency operation. The vehicle protects the troops against small arm fire and is fitted with bulletproof glasses. The vehicle floor is protected against hand grenade blasts. The vehicle has a split air conditioning unit for crew comfort. The LATC is fitted with suspended seats and has seat belts for additional safety. The fuel tank is filled with explosive suppression material.

Armoured Safari: This NIJ Level III protection vehicle for VVIPs is equipped with features like hand grenade protection for under belly, extra wide footsteps for escorts and RYG (Red Yellow Green) indicator for escort vehicles. It comes with comfortable interiors, plush seating, fine-tuned suspension, HVAC. The armoured Safari has run flat tyres, five exit doors, and explosive suppressant material in the fuel tank.



[COLOR=black]Tata 8x8 platform, a versatile battlefield mobility solution[/COLOR][COLOR=black]: The Tata 8x8 is a unique and versatile platform, capable of being configured to a host of military applications for Missile / Weapon Stations, Surveillance Equipment, Communications and Electronics Warfare Platforms, Bridge Laying, Tank Transporters, Recovery Vehicles, Mobile Specialist Workshops, Hook Loader Applications and Load Carriers. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]On offer is a wide range of specifications to suit individual applications. The Tata 8x8 is powered by a pow[/COLOR]erful 380-420 HP Engine and a versatile 9-16 speed gear box, with heavy-duty transfer cases driving the hub reduction tandem axles to address requirement of high speeds and severe gradients. An option of automatic transmission is also available in this range.

Th[COLOR=black]e compensating bogey suspension, capable of operating under severe terrain conditions with full air brakes having optional ABS, takes on a heavy-duty frame. The vehicle is fitted with a tiltable military cabin with good all around visibility, and is compatible to up-armouring.[/COLOR]

Tata Motors has been closely associated with Indian Armed Forces since 1958. Over 1, 00,000 vehicles have been supplied to Indian military and paramilitary forces so far. Tata Motors defence solutions cover the complete range of logistics and tactical vehicles. The company has the rare distinction of providing the defence forces with customised solutions for specific defence applications.

Amit, two points:

1. Always Quote your source.
2. Do not copy-paste from another appln. It retains the formatting info, as seen in your post above. If you still do, remember to remove the formatting by using the 'A' crossed out button, as seen above & to the left of the msg compose window

Any pictures?

Dubai International Airport has 120 Neoplan ground support equipment (airport tarmac buses).

Here are three types I photographed last Sunday, 10th Feb. 2008


This one, whose rear is visible is a 2007 Neoplan N9122K model.


It is powered by a Euro4 compliant, 240 bhp, MAN 6-cylinder common-rail injected diesel. This engine drives a ZF 4-speed automatic transmission with integrated Voith Retarder, one of the world's best known hydrodynamic braking systems also found on our Volvo B7Rs.
It has independent suspension on all four wheels.

Its cockpit ergonomics comply with the specifications laid down by the VDV (Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen => Association of German Transport undertakings).

These buses are built in the city of Maribor, Slovenia by Neoplan's joint venture with TVM (Tovarna Vozil Maribor).

As it speeds with all wheels covered with spats, the coach appears to float above the tarmac.



Here are pics of the 2007 Neoplan N9122K at Salzburg airport in Austria.




Bus no. 65 below, is a 1997 Neoplan N922-DD. Pic shows the rear end. It can carry 170 passengers and has steering wheels and driving controls at both ends.


On its left, bus no. 80 (larger image below) is another Neoplan N9022L.

These afford outstanding all-round visibility. To protect from the Arabian desert sun, the massive windows on these buses have been tastefully coated with pretty white decorative sunfilm.


Ram

Neoplan buses were launched in India too, in 1980s, by Kirloskar. Failed miserably just like AL's "Leyland National" integral bus. They were ahead of time. I'm sure they would have fared better had they been launched in these times.

Two thoughts:

1. Designers must take into account, that unlike city buses, Airport tarmac bus layouts and furnishings must let most of their passengers, stand as comfortably as possible with their carry-on luggage. They run very short distances on the smoothest possible terrain. And they carry passengers who expect aircraft quality NVH.
2. And @directinjection: Expect a quarter century of innovation to separate an early 1980s Kirloskar-Neoplan proposal from a modern 2008 Neoplan bus.

Do you have pictures of Kassbohrer setra's and all. I get to see a couple of Vanhools here in US apart from a few MCI/GMC/GM/Mack models which dont attract much interest.

Will surely have a few pics. Will look into my pics and get back, @1100D.

Here is a very rare pic of a 1981 Neoplan "Galaxy Lounge".

It was an enormous double-decker airport tarmac/apron bus. Was 49 feet long, 14 feet 9 in. wide and 14 feet 9 in. broad.

It had a 340 passenger capacity and a built in escalator to the aircraft. It could "dock" with aircraft, whose doors were from 6.5 ft to 18 ft above ground.

Saudi Arabia purchased these monsters and used them at Jeddah airport.

Ram

Did Kirloaskar assemble it in India?

Also... sorry but can you tell me more about the Leyland National bus? Is that different from the Cruiser?

Kirloskar used to assemble the Neoplan in India. I still remember that in 1985, a neoplan bus used to ply for Tiruvalluvar Transport Corpn between Bangalore and Madras in 5.5 hours via Chitoor, beating the other buses by nearly 2 hours.

The Leyland Integral bus looked and was probably derived from a similar bus with the British Leyland inventory. It was introduced for city transport and there was even one running in Bombay's BEST in 1991. The capacity of this bus was not large, muts have been around 30 seats only. It was almost identical to the Tata's low-floor Starbuses that are becoming popular today.

And also expect three quarter centuries of innovation to separate an early 1980s Kirloskar-Neoplan proposal (or rather a bus) from the average Indian bus!

The Kirloskar Neoplan bus had integral construction along with air suspension. The interiors were comparable to an aircraft cabin. I say that because I sat in one!

Cheers!

I have details of both in archives at home. I'll certainly post them after digging up.

Leyland National bus was introduced in UK by British Leyland in 1970s. It was designed to be comfortable and good looking in order to encourage people to switch over from cars to buses.

In 1978-79, Ashok Leyland decided to produce the bus in India under license. The Indian version was to have the same engine and transmission that did duty in Comet and Viking. Also, in spite of being an integral coach, the bus was to be only partially built at AL plant, the rest being built at outside body builders. The bus was rear engined and had a low floor. While the British version had air suspension, IIRC, the Indian version had the usual leaf spring suspension. The bus was built in India only in small numbers due to lack of demand.

Have you noticed the difference in the sound of the engine when the engine is mounted at the front vs when the engine is mounted at the rear ? Any body know why ? (pls leave Volvo's out of this. I am only referring to Tata & AL busses)

When mounted at the rear, the engine seems to struggle.

. It was introduced for city transport and there was even one running in Bombay's BEST in 1991. The capacity of this bus was not large, muts have been around 30 seats only. It was almost identical to the Tata's low-floor Starbuses that are becoming popular today.[/quote]

do you have a picture of it.. its not even stated anywhere on the BEST website.

do you have a picture of it.. its not even stated anywhere on the BEST website.[/quote]

I think I may have one of teh old AL in-house journals, but I have to search. There was only one plying for BEST and that originated in the Nagar Chowk stand (must be Backbay Depot).