India’s missile arsenal is often hailed as a symbol of self-reliance and cutting-edge defence capability. Years of investment in research, design, and domestic manufacturing are demonstrated by the Agni series of ballistic missiles, the Pinaka rocket systems, the Prithvi series, and the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile. BrahMos, in particular, has become the poster child for India’s defense exports. However, behind these well-known missile systems is an important but less talked-about part – the High Mobility Vehicle (HMV). These special transport platforms are crucial; without them, India’s missiles wouldn’t be able to go as far or be as flexible in operations.
Workhorses behind missile deployment
HMVs are specialised military trucks built to transport missile systems, radars and artillery through difficult terrain. Their cross-country capability allows mobility across deserts, riverine zones and high-altitude borders where conventional logistics trucks cannot operate.
Variants such as 6×6 and 8×8 HMVs are already central to missile regiments, carrying systems including BrahMos, Agni, Pinaka and Prithvi to forward positions. By providing stability and reliability in combat environments, they act as the operational link between the missile and its launch.
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Push for self-reliance
Dependence on foreign-built HMVs is seen as a strategic risk. These vehicles, unlike regular logistics trucks, must be combat-ready, serviceable and upgradeable at short notice. Ensuring domestic capability in design, production and maintenance is therefore considered critical for India’s defence preparedness.
BEML (previously Bharat Earth Movers Limited), a public sector company, has spearheaded the growth of domestic HMV. Its latest model, a 12×12 platform unveiled recently, can carry payloads of up to 42 tonnes. Equipped with a 500 hp engine, seven-speed automatic transmission, independent suspension and central tyre inflation, the vehicle has a range of 600 km, making it suitable for extreme terrain and long-range deployments.
Building on decades of experience
India’s HMV capability was first built on proven Tatra technology acquired in the late 1980s. Known for its backbone chassis and independent swinging half-axles, the Tatra platform was gradually indigenised and refined by BEML.
Today, the company produces a wide range of vehicles that support battlefield mobility – transporting tanks, missile systems, radars, bridging equipment and recovery vehicles. Their modular design, lightweight engines and trench-crossing capability have made them indispensable to modern military operations.
Keeping pace with modernisation
With India facing a two-front security challenge and operating in diverse terrain, indigenous HMVs are viewed as essential for sustaining missile mobility. Analysts say that as the missile arsenal grows more sophisticated, the platforms carrying them must evolve simultaneously.
For BrahMos, Agni, Pinaka and Prithvi to remain credible strategic assets, they require equally reliable Indian-built platforms beneath them. BEML’s long-established role, backed by its new 12×12 HMV, demonstrates that India already has the engineering base to meet this need. The priority now is to strengthen this foundation – safeguarding domestic capacity, scaling up production and making indigenous HMVs the standard for India’s defence mobility.
