[Ironhide]

Originally Posted by Tapish

It is a Tata 8*8 used as a missile launcher, usually carrying Pinaka rockets. Was displayed prominently at the DefExpo.

Cheers,
Tapish

That's correct Tapish. The basic platform remains the same while the superstructure can be modified to cater to a host of requirements : Transporter Erector Launcher for Missiles, Fuel Resupply Trucks, Tank Transporters, Command Posts for artillery, Tractor / Prime Mover /Tower for Artillery Guns, Radar Carrier Vehicles, Ammunition Resupply Vehicles for keeping up with rapidly moving armoured columns across the deserts ......the list is endless. What Tata has done is that it has made the competition stiffer in the High Mobility Vehicles segment where until now Tatra was the sole player. This IMO should improve quality as well as bring down prices. This augurs well for the defence forces who are in need for more quality HMVs (not to be confused with HMMWV Humvee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , though the forces need these too)
Cheers

[the VTEC guy]

Originally Posted by prmd_cochin

The cabin looks very similar to this one.

Yep. though this one seems a 12X12. phewww. one in original post is a shorter version 8x8.

[aditya101]

This very truck is Tata's counter offer against TATRA. You can see in the pictures that they are doing loan testing with extra tyres and weights loaded on.

The low overhang is for better offroad performance.

[newtonMeter]

This is surely BEML TATRA replacement

[Grace]

So, will we see, tatra trucks shortly in the defense scrap yard. Hope there a short chassis available, akin to ALH, but then, of much better quality.

Andy

[Rajat]

Though this (TATA LPTA 3138 8x8) might be compared against the Tatra, IMO there's nothing in the Indian Army as of now that can come close to it in terms of high speed off road mobility. The Tatra's Suspension is all together of a different league. I wonder if Tata has adopted the same in this truck. If it has, then certainly it does have a winner at hand. No doubt that the Tata vehicle will be an efficient, fast and cheaper load mover than the Tatra but it still has to prove its mettle off the road. Tata did deliver well in the 2.5 Ton segment by providing the LPTA 713 4x4. The vehicle is so powerful that even army drivers are scared of pushing this beast on normal roads in peace areas in normal civilian traffic.

Hope to see an ingeniously developed, capable and a more competent replacement 8x8 for the Tatra in the form of LPTA 3138 8x8.

[ajman28]

Originally Posted by Rajat

Though this (TATA LPTA 3138 8x8) might be compared against the Tatra, IMO there's nothing in the Indian ............

What vehicle is that in your snap (the red one)? It looks like some off-road sport!
Are those bellows part of the suspension? Why are they placed at such an angle?

[D33-PAC]

Originally Posted by ajman28

What vehicle is that in your snap (the red one)? It looks like some off-road sport!

They're used for European truck trial events, the entire purpose of the event is to see how possible it is to do the seemingly impossible by getting from point A to B in horrendous terrain . I don't know whether Tatra sponsers such events but almost all the trucks used in these events are Tatras, probably for the suspension?

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by Rajat

...
Hope to see an ingeniously developed, capable and a more competent replacement 8x8 for the Tatra in the form of LPTA 3138 8x8.

The Tata trucks detailed are conventional 8x8. And these trucks are not going to replace Tatra's and will only be used as a logistic truck like Stallion but with a higher payload .

Watch this Tatra's video

Originally Posted by ajman28

What vehicle is that in your snap (the red one)? It looks like some off-road sport!
Are those bellows part of the suspension? Why are they placed at such an angle?

[Rajat]

Originally Posted by ajman28

What vehicle is that in your snap (the red one)? It looks like some off-road sport!
Are those bellows part of the suspension? Why are they placed at such an angle?

The red vehicle is one of the Tatra T815 variants. The bellows that you see are a part of Tatra's Air-hydraulic suspension. The bellows inflate/deflate in order to provide the right angle to the wheels while maneuvering an obstacle.
While the wheels are mounted on flexible axles coming from the differential, the differential itself remains fixed unlike the traditional leaf spring setup.
You will be able to understand that better by the following pics. I have also tried to draw various wheel angles for your understanding.

[Asif 6959]

From the pics the truck looks similar to Tatas recent launch, LPT 3723. This though would be used as a commercial vehicle and with a lift axle.

But the pictures posted surely looks like they are for the defense and might be available as a all wheel drive.
OT:
Tata use "A" to refer their "all wheel drive" on their vehicles. So this could possibly be a LPTA3723 under test minus the lift axle.

[ashphil]

We in India seem to be doing it in reverse order. We develop missiles first and then develop vehicles to carry them. Should not the development of both been simultaneous?
regards,
Ashok

[smashnerd]

I don't feel this can compare favorably to a Tatra in extreme conditions with the leaf spring suspension it sports. For flat terrain use though it could be a bargain. Need to make the cabin a bit less claustrophobic too IMHO. Maybe a Mahindra-Navistar 8x8 will show up soon too.

[torquecurve]

For most Indian terrain the TATA 8x8/12x12 and the AL FAT (Field Arty Tractor) will suffice our needs. THe Tatra on the other hand are required more in areas which are otherwise very difficult to access (Arunachal Pradesh for e.g.).

These vehicles are well suited for most of the IA's logistical needs. AFAIK the torque that these vehicles (Tatra, TATA 8, 12, AL FAT, KRAZ) make at the wheels is phenomenal. As an example, the KRAZ has to be loaded with a 10T load on the loadbody so that the wheels dont keep spinning in place.

While the build quality 'looks' bad, the cabin is suspended on its own separate suspension from chassis. Also, the built body is lighter to compensate for the additional loads that will be added when the vehicle moves in as front line support. The front typically will have heavy tow hooks, armour plating, etc added.). Also, the flat panel design makes it easier to repair the vehicle while on field. Most components are designed to be easy to replace on field, access to these components is through these panels.

The Tatra's certainly have the advantage of better suspension, but now that we have improved connectivity across the country, this truck can cover distances faster and more economically than the Tatra.

For more information on this and other 'tactical' trucks by Tata for the forces, check this link Tata Motors : Defence

[ajman28]

Originally Posted by Asif 6959

From the pics the truck looks similar to Tatas recent launch, LPT 3723. This though would be used as a commercial vehicle and with a lift axle.

Has this model already been launched?
I have never seen a truck with a lift-axle system on the last axle (as shown in the pic)! Isn't the lift-axle system only adopted to the middle axles?