Tata Light Support Vehicle (LSUV) Merlin comes wearing STANAG 4569 Level-I armour, self-recovery winch and run-flat tyres
Tata Motors is not only a major player in the passenger vehicle segment, but the automaker known for its range of defence vehicles as well. The new armoured defence vehicle of the company likely to be christened as the Merlin has been spied without any camouflage. Tata describes this vehicle as the Light Support Vehicle of (LSUV).
This vehicle has been spotted earlier testing on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and going through high altitude tests at some unknown location. This new defence vehicle comes wearing STANAG 4569 Level-I armour on the side profiles and rear as well. It also gets self-recovery winch and run-flat tyres with CTIS (Central Tyre Inflation System) technology.
Also read: Tata to Supply 3,192 Units of Safari Storme SUV to the Indian Army
On top, the Tata Merlin gets a turret that an house a 7.62 mm medium machine gun, 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and anti-tank guided missile as well. Upon launch, this vehicle is expected to be employed at different locations of the country in service for the armed forces. It comes with great water wading capability and very high ground clearance as well. As it appears, this defence vehicle is well capable of running on treacherous terrains easily.
Power source for the Tata Merlin is a 3.3-litre water-cooled, direct injection, turbo diesel engine that is capable of churning out 185 bhp of peak power at 3,200 rpm and 450 Nm of peak torque at 2,400 rpm. For transmission duty, this vehicle gets an 8-speed automatic gearbox. All the four wheels of this vehicle get hydraulic brakes with vacuum assisted brake boosters. Also, the front and rear axles come with independent suspension set up.
Also read: 7 Upcoming Tata Cars in India in 2017, 2018
Earlier this year, Tata Motors bagged an order from Indian Army to supply 3,192 units of Safari Storme SUV after going through trial run for 15 months. The Tata Safari Storme replaced the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy that has been in service of the Indian Army for quite long time since 1991.
Tata Merlin Gallery
Source: Team BHP