Indian Army tests new tactical vehicle at military exercise

A-Thon's 4×4 Ashva 4S vehicle is pictured at Exercise ‘Kharga Shakti 2026'. (A-Thon)

The Indian Army's Western Command tested Bangalore-based A-Thon's Ashva-D series of tactical vehicles at Exercise ‘Kharga Shakti 2026' at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, a spokesperson for the company told Janes in February.

According to the spokesperson, Western Command tested four configurations of the vehicle series, which were customised to the service's requirements. These four configurations include Ashva 4×4 2S, featuring two seats and a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); Ashva 4×4 4S, featuring four seats; Ashva 4×4 5S, featuring five seats and a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV; and Ashva 6×6 2S, featuring six-wheel drive capability.

Footage published by Western Command in late February on its X social media page shows the Ashva vehicles being operated by the ‘Ashni' drone platoon of the II Corps, also known as the Kharga Corps.

According to the spokesperson, the vehicle has completed high-altitude trials in the northern states of India and autonomous operation trials in the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh.

The spokesperson said, “We can confirm that the Ashva-D series has completed Technical Evaluation Centre (TEC) approvals and has undergone extensive field trials across Ladakh, at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet, Uttarakhand, Jammu, and Rajasthan over a four-month period.

“Assisted autonomous operation trials of the 6×6 platform have also been conducted at Babina,” the spokesperson added.

“The Ashva-D series is an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured all-terrain vehicle platform designed for tactical mobility, reconnaissance, drone integration, and logistics support across diverse terrains,” the spokesperson said.