Tata to build 150 DRDO-developed WhAP armoured vehicles for Morocco

Indian firm Tata will build 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) combat vehicles for the Moroccan defense forces in line with the Make in India initiative.

"The contract has been signed between the Indian firm and Morocco for building 150 of these vehicles for their armed forces," defense officials said. 

The WhAP vehicles were developed by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment in partnership with Tata.

According to the contract, the vehicles will be supplied to the Moroccan forces over three years. This will be the biggest contract for Indian-made armored vehicles, both within and outside the country. The Indian paramilitary forces have also placed orders for the indigenous armoured vehicle.

Trials of the vehicle have been ongoing in Morocco for the last several months. The manufacturers will work closely with DRDO teams to provide input for upgrades to the vehicles during the supply period, officials said.

WhAP is an indigenously designed and developed amphibious wheeled combat vehicle. According to DRDO, the design philosophy of this platform aligns with global trends and focuses on modularity, scalability, and reconfigurability to adapt the platform for various roles.

The WhAP can easily navigate through muddy or slushy terrain and can withstand mine blasts. Variants of the WhAP, including the Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV) and the paramilitary version, have been inducted into the Indian Army and paramilitary forces.