New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts for the procurement of 697 Bogie Open Military (BOM) Wagons at a cost of 473 Crores with M/s Jupiter Wagons Limited and the procurement of 56 Mechanical Minefield Marking Equipment (MMME) Mark II at a cost of 329 Crores with M/s BEML Ltd, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category on January 4, 2024, in New Delhi. The BOM Wagons and MMME will be produced with equipment and sub-systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, boosting indigenous manufacturing and encouraging private sector participation in defense production, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Bogie Open Military (BOM) wagons, designed by the Research Design and Standard Organization (RDSO), are specialist wagons used by the Indian Army for mobilization of Army units. BOM wagons transport light vehicles, Artillery Guns, BMPs, Engineering Equipment, etc., from their peacetime locations to operational areas. This Critical Rolling Stock ensures the speedy and simultaneous induction of units and equipment into operational areas during any conflict situation, besides facilitating their peacetime movement for Military exercises and the transfer of units from one station to another.
Marking all minefields is a mandatory requirement as per the amended Protocol-II on Convention in certain Conventional Weapons, to which India is a signatory. MMME is designed to operate cross-country with a complete load of stores and carry out the marking of minefields with minimal time and manpower employment. The equipment is based on an in-service High Mobility Vehicle with advanced mechanical and electrical systems, reducing the time for minefield marking during operations and enhancing the operational capability of the Indian Army.