BEML, DRDO sign Transfer of Technology pact
Bengaluru, June 9 (UNI) In a major thrust to India's defence indigenisation drive, BEML Limited has signed three Licensing Agreements with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Transfer of Technology (ToT) to manufacture critical mobility and support systems for the Indian Army's Armoured Corps.
The agreements were signed with the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), a premier DRDO laboratory, and will enable BEML to indigenously produce the Unit Maintenance Vehicle (UMV) and Unit Repair Vehicle (URV) for MBT Arjun, as well as a Full Trailer for 70-tonne Tank Transporters with advanced hydraulic suspension.
The Licensing Agreements were formally handed over by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, to Sanjay Som, Director (Mining & Construction), BEML Ltd, at a ceremony held at VRDE, Ahmednagar on June 7.
Also present were G Ramamohana Rao, Director, VRDE; Dr Prateek Kishor, Director General (Armament and Combat Engineering), DRDO; senior DRDO scientists, and industry representatives.
"This collaboration is a milestone in strengthening the Indian Army's operational capabilities with next-generation indigenous solutions, fully aligned with the Government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative," said BEML Chairman and Managing Director Shantanu Roy.
The transferred technologies include two critical support vehicles for the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) fleet. The Unit Maintenance Vehicle (UMV) is designed to perform first-line maintenance and light repairs on electrical and mechanical assemblies in field conditions, ensuring the tank's operational continuity.
The Unit Repair Vehicle (URV) serves as a second-line repair system, capable of conducting field repairs on vital components, thereby improving the uptime and combat effectiveness of the Arjun MBT fleet.
Additionally, the Full Trailer for the 70-tonne Tank Transporter has been developed to move heavy armoured vehicles like the Arjun MBT Mk-1A. This trailer features a modular hydraulic suspension system and steerable axles, offering enhanced mobility and manoeuvrability across a variety of terrains, including metalled, gravelled, and unpaved roads.
The agreement reflects BEML's expanding role in building a robust indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem and meeting the evolving demands of modern warfare.
BEML, a 'Schedule A' company under the Ministry of Defence, operates across three key verticals – Defence & Aerospace, Mining & Construction, and Rail & Metro – with manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, Kolar Gold Fields, Mysuru, and Palakkad. UNI BDN SSP
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