A deep-jungle tactical meeting of the Naxals was intercepted by security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, neutralising 30 militants. The development has brought the country's focus back to anti-Naxal operations.
Landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used to be the go-to weapons of Left Wing Extremist Naxals in Chhattigarh for long. Security forces took significant casualties over the years as the militants used mines to ambush patrolling troops. However, India has significantly turned the tide in recent times, liberating many parts of the "red corridor" that used to be impenetrable for uniformed men.
Tata Advanced Systems Maroc (TASM) factory in #Morocco to have an annual production capacity of 100 vehicles; initial order placed for 150 8×8 WhAP by Morocco. pic.twitter.com/OSFkjr7yfv
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The use of advanced technology and weaponry played a crucial role in bringing the Naxals to their knees across the jungles of Chhattisgarh. Night vision goggles, drones, and rocket launchers have all helped the security forces to counter the guerilla militants effectively. However, the Wheeled Armoured Platform or WhAP 8X8, an indigenously developed armoured troop carrier, requires special mention.
WhAP arrives to counter LWE
WhAP 8x8
According to reports, the Naxals learnt that WhAP is not to be messed with. Their first encounter with this state-of-art machines happened in 2024 when they launched a surprise attack on a CRPF camp in Telangana's Tekulagudem. The officer in command of the camp quickly ordered his men to mount the Medium Machine Guns (MMGs) on WhAPs. The Naxals, who thought they had the element of surprise, had no choice but to beat a retreat as they had no chance against the heavy fire.
Indian engineering goes global!
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Morocco signs agreement with Tata to manufacture WhAP 8*8 armoured vehicles for Moroccan defence forces. pic.twitter.com/xR2AxUGbP4
The deployment of WhAP 8X8 in Bastar and other Naxal-hit areas has provided the CRPF personnel with protection from explosives. Neither landmines nor IEDs can "wipe out" the jawans any longer as they are moving in these unbreachable giants. If one forward operating base (FOB) comes under attack, troops from nearby FOBs rush to help in these vehicles that can travel at a speed of 40km/h in off-road conditions.
What are WhAP 8x8?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed WhAP 8x8 in collaboration with Tata Advanced SystemsTata Advanced Systems. The nomenclature "8x8" refers to a vehicle with eight wheels, all of which are powered. It is India’s first amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle (Wheeled) that can travel in water at a speed of 10km/h using a water jet. It can carry 10 fully equipped soldiers apart from the two crew members.
WhAP 8x8
WhAP can negotiate muddy terrain with ease and can reach 100 km/h on regular roads. It can be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), 30mm cannons or 7.62mm coaxial machine guns depending on the variant. They have been inducted into the Indian Army and Paramilitary forces.
Why Naxal mines are useless against Wheeled Armoured Platform?
Its hull is designed with a V-shaped bottom to absorb impact and provide better protection to the riders and provide stability to the vehicle. The bottom panel, meanwhile, can deflect blast energy and absorb the force. This too, reduces the impact of the explosion on the vehicle and safeguards the soldiers.
The vehicle can withstand mine blasts as it has STANAG Level III-IV ballistic protection. Additional armour can be fitted to them depending on requirements, various missions and operating conditions. Tata claims they were "designed for optimised survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality."
