The Indian Army has begun deploying newly manufactured Mahindra Light Specialist Vehicles (LSV) to its Northern Command and the Chicken Neck near Bangladesh.
The Siliguri Corridor, or Chicken’s Neck, is a narrow strip of land in West Bengal, approximately 20-60 kilometres wide, which connects India’s mainland to its northeastern states. Bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, it is one of India’s most strategically located regions.
At its narrowest, the corridor is just about 20 km wide. Called Chicken Neck because of its geographical shape, this strip has Nepal and Bhutan to its north and Bangladesh to its south. Any blockage on this route will effectively cut off the Northeast from the rest of India.
The Indian Army is preparing to deploy a light armoured brigade in the Chicken Neck.
According to the Indian Army’s Southern Command, the latest batch of LSVS was dispatched this week from the Ordnance Depot in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, for immediate integration into frontline operations.
The vehicles are part of a significant modernisation effort under a ₹1,056 crore ($140 million) contract awarded to Mahindra & Mahindra in 2021 to deliver 1,300 units.
The Mahindra LSV, or Armando, is a compact, four-wheel-drive armoured vehicle explicitly developed for high-altitude and rough-terrain operations. Designed with modularity and air transportability in mind, it supports a variety of mission configurations, including anti-tank and reconnaissance roles.
The vehicle is based on the Mahindra pickup truck and powered by a 3.2-litre Steyr six-cylinder multi-fuel turbo diesel engine producing 215 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. With a load capacity of 400 kg and capability for off-road mobility in hostile terrain, it provides tactical commanders greater agility in border deployments.
Mohindra Light Specialist Vehicles are known to have mobility issues, lack ballistic and IED protection, and overheat issues with the 4×4 system. Mohindra pickup trucks and Mohindra Light Specialist Vehicles have the same maintenance issues.
A senior defence official familiar with the deployment said the LSVS are positioned to “improve unit-level mobility and tactical strike options in the region,” especially in terrain where traditional armoured platforms face logistical constraints.
The Northern Command, which oversees operations along India’s most sensitive frontiers, including those with China and Pakistan, is expected to continue integrating these platforms as part of a broader effort to strengthen combat readiness in remote sectors.
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