Have you ever wondered what it would be like to lead the life of an Indian soldier defending our borders? If not, then we at autoX would like to remind you of the dangers these brave souls face each and every moment of their lives while defending the country. Every month, we cover the automobile space in great lengths, but have never attempted to include the area of Defence technology and equipment. And that’s why, in this issue, we bring to you the tech savvy Defexpo – held recently in the capital from the 15th-18th of February 2010.

As the title of the show indicates, the exhibition laid emphasis on both land and naval defence systems, which meant that it was a hell of a visual treat. From fighter planes to missiles, and tanks to armored vehicles, this expo strutted all of India’s military prowess in all its brilliance. Big automotive giants like Tata, Mahindra and Ashok Leyland made their presence felt at the Expo. These Indian giants, who’ve built their businesses in the passenger and commercial vehicle segments, now appear to be ready to truly tackle the military sector with the introduction of their latest security vehicles.

Some of the Tata vehicles appear to have incorporated bits of technology from the recently acquired Jaguar Land Rover stable. The largest vehicle on display was the Tata 8x8 High-Mobility Vehicle, which is a versatile weapons platform capable of configuring various military applications like missile / artillery and air defence weapons, surveillance equipment, communications, and electronic warfare. Featuring a 380/420 PS engine, this 8x8 platform can achieve speeds of over 80 km/h, with a gradeability of up to 30% – impressive for its sheer weight. It also has a fordability of 1,200 mm, a trench crossing ability of 2 meters, along with a ground clearance of 400 mm – adding to its tactical ability. The 8X8 on display had a massive Air Defence Gun mounted at the back, which would be sure to deter any enemy aircraft from flying overhead.

For counter-insurgency operations, Tata has the Mine Protected Vehicle, which integrates ‘V’ shaped hull blast protection technology. This vehicle offers two roof-top hatches meant for vigilance, 9 firing ports, and a 360-degree roof mounted rotating turret for LMG (Light Machine Gun) / HMG (Heavy Machine Gun) – providing maximum fire support. This vehicle can accommodate 8 to 12 troops – with air-conditioning to boot. Having a 245 PS diesel engine, this machine generates a top speed of 100 km/h with 860 mm of ground clearance, and fordability of 1000 mm for easy navigation.

And, of course, being a military exhibition meant that the Hummer was very much present as well. Called the HMMWV, it has dual parallel air condensers for comfort, but more importantly, under body armour, rocket armour, lower windscreen deflector armour, and energy absorbing seats for vital protection. With a 6.5-litre turbocharged V8 diesel, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the Humvee has served the American armed forces for decades, and has a stellar record when it comes to transporting soldiers and artillery to war zones.

The French were not to be out-done either, and we also came across a massive, yet strange looking, Renault SUV. Named Sherpa, this light armored vehicle provides tactical mobility solutions in all sorts of terrain. Used to carry personnel, as well as equipment, the Sherpa does the job of protecting both the occupants as well as the equipment against ground attacks. Renault is currently testing a version of the Sherpa that can be fully submerged in water – something that the Hummer is not equipped to do.

All the manufacturers present at Defexpo must be saluted for the incredible tactical support they provide our brave soldiers – thereby enabling them to defend our borders, and provide us with security. And while we would wish for nothing more than a world full of peace and harmony, you have to love and respect these awesome machines all the same.