Kalyani M4

Kalyani M4
Type	Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
Place of origin	India
Service history
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Designer	Kalyani Group
Manufacturer	Bharat Forge
Specifications
Mass	16,000 kg total weight
Length	5.8 m
Width	2.6 m
Height	2.45 m
Crew	2+2+6
Armor	NATO STANAG 4569 Level III
Engine	Turbo Diesel (336 kW, 465 HP, 1627 N.m) [1] 465 hp [2]
Power/weight	30 HP/ton
Payload capacity	2,300 Kgs [3]
Transmission	6 Speed Automatic
Suspension	Bilstein Heavy Duty Suspension
Operational range	800 km [4]
Maximum speed	140 km/h [5]
Steering system	Power steering, Front wheel

The Kalyani M4 is a high-mobility Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle produced by Kalyani Group's Bharat Forge. ^[6] It is a Kalyani-Paramount partnership developed variant of the Mbombe 4 built by South Africa's Paramount Group.

After conducting extensive trials in Ladakh, the Indian Army placed orders for these vehicles under an emergency procurement amidst China-India Border Standoff in a contract worth ₹ 177.95 crore (equivalent to ₹200 croreorUS$23 million in 2023) in 2021. ^[7]

Design

Kalyani M4 at the Kartavya Path, January 2023

The Kalyani M4 is designed predominantly as an extraction and occupant protection vehicle. Its design offers high speed and quick manoeuvrability. It has a maximum payload of 2.3 tonnes and can carry up to 8 people. With all the armour, the M4 weighs around 16,000 Kg. It has a 43-degree approach and 44-degrees departure angle with a water wading depth of 900 mm to operate it in tough terrain or fording rivers ^[8]

The Kalyani M4 uses a turbocharged 6-pot diesel motor which is rated to deliver 465hp and a 1627 Nm of torque. It uses a CVT automatic transmission. It also features a low-range gearbox to work with the 4×4 system to scale difficult steep inclines. The M4 has top speed of 140 km/h and has a range of 800 km. ^{[9] [10]}

Kalyani M4 in Military Green parked in an exhibition at IIT Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir.

It can withstand three 10 kg TNT charges under the wheels and 50 kg IED side blasts. ^{[11] [12]}

Kalyani M4 as part of Indian UN peacekeepers leaving for UNISFA, Abyei, April 2022.

Operators

  India

• Indian Army – 126 with 100 more on order. ^{[13] [14]}

See also

• Ashok Leyland Light Bullet Proof Vehicles(LBPV)
• Mahindra Axe
• Mahindra Armored Light Specialist Vehicle
• Mahindra Marksman
• TATA Kestrel
• TATA Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle

References

1. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
2. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
3. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
4. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
5. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
6. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
7. Philip, Snehesh Alex (23 February 2021). "Army places emergency procurement order for Kalyani M4 armoured vehicles tested in Ladakh". ThePrint. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
8. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
9. "Mahindra ALSV, Kalyani M4: Highlights of Indian Army's new armoured fleet". The Financial Express. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
10. "Mbombe 4" (PDF). Paramount Group.
11. "Mbombe 4 rolls out new armour addition". Janes.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
12. Philip, Snehesh Alex (21 October 2022). "China threat in mind, Army buys more M4 armoured vehicles with anti-tank missiles". ThePrint. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
13. "China threat in mind, Army buys more M4 armoured vehicles with anti-tank missiles". The Print. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
14. "Made in India Muscle: Kalyani M4 Armored Vehicle Revs Up Army's Power". Defence.in. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.