AVTEC Strengthens India’s Indigenous Defence Manufacturing with Automatic Transmissions for Combat Vehicles

India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing is extending beyond weapons, ammunition and armoured platforms to the critical mechanical systems that determine battlefield mobility. AVTEC Limited, a leading Indian manufacturer of powertrain systems and precision-engineered components, is contributing to this transformation through the indigenous development and production of automatic transmissions for military tracked vehicles.

Part of the CKA Birla Group, AVTEC has established capabilities in designing and manufacturing transmissions, gearboxes and specialised drivetrain components for defence applications. Its product portfolio includes the AX350 automatic transmission for light and medium tracked vehicles, splitter gearboxes for advanced artillery systems and transfer cases for the Indian Army’s Shilka air-defence vehicles.

The company’s defence manufacturing activities demonstrate how India’s established automotive and industrial engineering capabilities are increasingly supporting military modernisation. By developing critical drivetrain components domestically, AVTEC is helping expand the country’s industrial capabilities in an area where specialised technology and precision manufacturing are essential.

AVTEC’s Entry into India’s Defence Manufacturing Sector

AVTEC formally entered the defence manufacturing sector in 2016, drawing upon its experience in designing and manufacturing automotive engines, heavy-duty transmissions and precision-engineered powertrain components.

The company had already established a substantial industrial presence in India’s automotive and off-highway equipment sectors. Its engineering activities covered transmissions for commercial vehicles, mining machinery, construction equipment and other demanding industrial applications.

Military tracked vehicles present additional engineering challenges because their transmissions must handle substantial mechanical loads while supporting propulsion, steering and braking under difficult operating conditions. The expertise developed in industrial powertrain engineering provided AVTEC with a foundation for entering this specialised segment.

According to its official defence division, AVTEC manufactures automatic transmissions for infantry combat vehicles and develops drivetrain components for other Indian military applications. The company identifies indigenous engineering and manufacturing as central elements of its defence business.

Its expansion into military systems reflects the increasing participation of Indian private-sector companies in developing equipment previously sourced largely through established international suppliers or specialised defence manufacturing organisations.

AX350 Automatic Transmission for Tracked Combat Vehicles

One of AVTEC’s significant indigenous defence products is the AX350 automatic transmission, designed and developed for light and medium tracked vehicles.

According to the company’s official technical specifications, the AX350 supports engines rated up to 335 kW, equivalent to approximately 450 horsepower. It uses a cross-drive configuration that integrates transmission, steering and braking functions within a single assembly.

This integrated architecture is particularly important for tracked vehicles, which require coordinated power distribution to control their movement. Unlike conventional wheeled vehicles, tracked platforms generally manoeuvre by varying the movement of their tracks.

The AX350 incorporates four forward ranges and one reverse range, with an optional second reverse range. Its electronic control system supports integration with modern engines, while a torque converter equipped with an automatic lock-up clutch improves power transfer during vehicle operation.

AVTEC specifies a maximum input speed of 2,500 revolutions per minute and a maximum input torque rating of 1,750 lb-ft, approximately 2,373 Nm.

The integrated design allows multiple drivetrain functions to operate through a coordinated mechanical system. Such arrangements are valuable in military tracked vehicles, where packaging efficiency, mechanical durability and controlled power delivery are important design considerations.

By developing this transmission domestically, AVTEC has established Indian engineering capability in a specialised area of tracked vehicle mobility.

Supplying Automatic Transmissions for Infantry Combat Vehicles

AVTEC’s official defence portfolio confirms that the company manufactures automatic transmissions for infantry combat vehicles.

Infantry combat vehicles combine protected troop transportation with battlefield mobility and weapons systems. Their powertrains must operate reliably across roads, uneven terrain and demanding off-road conditions while carrying substantial vehicle weight.

A transmission plays a central role in these vehicles by transferring engine power to the drivetrain while controlling operating speed and torque. In tracked vehicles, the transmission system may also incorporate steering and braking mechanisms.

AVTEC’s 2019 corporate brochure provides additional information about its participation in an Indian Army indigenisation project involving BMP infantry combat vehicles. The document states that its in-house-designed automatic transmission system was being fitted to BMP vehicles associated with two participating vendors under the Army programme.

The brochure also identifies AVTEC’s involvement in industry activities connected with future military vehicle programmes, including the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle, Future Ready Combat Vehicle and armoured personnel carrier segments.

These activities illustrate the company’s efforts to extend its powertrain expertise across different categories of military land platforms.

Indigenous Transfer Cases for the Indian Army’s Shilka Air-Defence Vehicles

Another important contribution involves the production of transfer cases for the Indian Army’s Shilka self-propelled air-defence vehicles.

The Shilka is a tracked anti-aircraft gun system originally developed in the Soviet Union. India has operated these systems for decades and has undertaken modernisation programmes to extend their operational usefulness.

As military equipment ages, maintaining its mechanical systems becomes increasingly important. Older imported platforms can face difficulties when original manufacturers reduce production or replacement components become harder to obtain.

AVTEC participated in a Bharat Electronics Limited project involving the modernisation of Indian Army Shilka vehicles. The company developed and supplied transfer cases to support fleet serviceability when replacement spares from Russia were unavailable.

According to AVTEC’s official defence information, the company has supplied more than 70 transfer cases, which are operational in the field.

A transfer case distributes mechanical power within a vehicle’s drivetrain and must withstand substantial rotational forces and demanding operating conditions.

The domestic availability of these components supports the continued maintenance of existing military platforms and reduces dependence on overseas sources for specialised replacement assemblies.

AVTEC’s Shilka programme demonstrates how Indian engineering companies can contribute to defence self-reliance through the development of components for equipment already serving in the armed forces.

AVTEC Gearboxes Support India’s Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System

AVTEC has also contributed to India’s indigenous artillery development programme through the manufacture of specialised splitter gearboxes.

The company’s official defence division confirms that it manufactures and supplies splitter gearboxes for the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

ATAGS is an indigenous 155 mm artillery system developed under a DRDO-led programme involving Indian defence manufacturers. The project represents an important effort to establish domestic capabilities in modern artillery design and production.

Splitter gearboxes are mechanical assemblies that distribute power from a primary drive source to multiple outputs. Depending on the application, they can operate auxiliary equipment, hydraulic systems and other powered mechanisms.

AVTEC’s industrial product portfolio includes the ASG 150 splitter gearbox, which supports input power of up to 150 horsepower and incorporates provisions for multiple power take-off outputs.

The development of specialised gearbox assemblies requires expertise in gear geometry, load distribution, bearing systems, lubrication and precision manufacturing.

AVTEC’s participation in artillery-related equipment manufacturing demonstrates the adaptability of its engineering capabilities beyond conventional automotive and tracked vehicle transmissions.

High-Power Industrial Transmissions Demonstrate AVTEC’s Engineering Capabilities

Beyond its defence products, AVTEC manufactures heavy-duty transmissions for industrial applications requiring substantial power and torque.

The company’s AH8700 series is rated for engine input power of up to 1,200 horsepower. It is a fully automatic powershift transmission incorporating seven forward speeds and one reverse speed.

The AH8700 is designed for demanding industrial environments, including mining and oilfield applications. Its electronic controls and heavy-duty mechanical construction reflect AVTEC’s experience in managing high-power drivetrain requirements.

AVTEC also offers the 5600/6600 transmission series, with power ratings ranging from 550 to 710 horsepower, along with several other automatic and powershift transmission products.

These industrial systems demonstrate the breadth of the company’s transmission engineering expertise. However, military cross-drive transmissions differ from conventional industrial transmissions because tracked vehicles may require integrated steering, braking and specialised power distribution arrangements.

AVTEC’s experience across industrial and military applications provides a technical foundation for developing increasingly sophisticated drivetrain solutions.

Research and Development Facilities in India

AVTEC’s indigenous manufacturing capabilities are supported by its research and development infrastructure in India.

The company operates a centralised technology centre at Hosur in Tamil Nadu, with design and development facilities at Hosur and Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh.

These facilities support product engineering, prototype development, testing, validation and the integration of complete powertrain systems.

According to AVTEC, its engineering capabilities include mechanical design, application engineering, product localisation, design optimisation and advanced manufacturing processes.

The company’s research activities also cover electronic transmission controls and engineering solutions that improve the integration of transmissions with different engine configurations.

Developing modern transmissions requires coordinated expertise across several disciplines. Mechanical components must withstand heavy loads, while hydraulic and electronic control systems must manage gear selection and power transfer.

Prototype testing and validation are essential because transmission assemblies operate under substantial mechanical stress throughout their service lives.

AVTEC’s domestic research and development infrastructure enables Indian engineering teams to undertake these activities while supporting product adaptation for different operating environments.

Swiss Technology Expertise Strengthens AVTEC’s Engineering Base

AVTEC’s engineering capabilities are further supported by its Switzerland-based subsidiary, ASSAG.

ASSAG specialises in advanced drive systems, precision gears and face gear technology. The company has developed expertise in specialised gear arrangements used in demanding mechanical applications.

Face gears transfer rotational power between intersecting shafts and can offer packaging advantages in certain drivetrain configurations. Their design and manufacture require considerable precision because gear tooth geometry directly influences load distribution, efficiency and durability.

Through ASSAG, AVTEC has access to specialised engineering expertise that complements its Indian design and manufacturing operations.

The combination of domestic research facilities and international engineering capabilities strengthens the company’s ability to develop advanced power transmission systems for automotive, industrial and specialised applications.

Such arrangements also demonstrate how Indian manufacturing companies can integrate international technical expertise into their domestic product development activities.

Why Indigenous Transmissions Are Important for India’s Combat Vehicles

A modern armoured vehicle depends on several major subsystems, including its engine, transmission, suspension, electronic controls and protective structure.

Although engines receive considerable attention because of their horsepower ratings, the transmission is equally important in determining how effectively a vehicle converts engine output into usable mobility.

A powerful engine cannot deliver its intended performance unless the transmission can manage the associated mechanical loads and transfer power efficiently to the drivetrain.

Tracked military vehicles require particularly specialised transmission systems because steering often involves controlling the relative movement of two tracks. These arrangements can impose complex mechanical demands that differ considerably from those encountered in conventional road vehicles.

Transmissions must also operate under changing loads caused by acceleration, gradients, uneven terrain and vehicle manoeuvres.

Developing these systems domestically creates opportunities for Indian manufacturers to undertake design modifications, produce replacement components and support maintenance throughout a vehicle’s operational life.

Local manufacturing can also improve access to technical expertise and reduce logistical dependence on imported mechanical assemblies.

For military modernisation programmes, these capabilities contribute to a more resilient domestic industrial base capable of supporting both new equipment and existing platforms.

Private Industry’s Growing Role in Defence Self-Reliance

India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem increasingly draws upon companies with established expertise in automotive engineering, electronics, metallurgy and advanced manufacturing.

AVTEC represents an important example of how civilian industrial capabilities can support specialised military requirements.

Its experience in producing engines, transmissions and precision components for commercial and off-highway equipment has provided a foundation for developing military drivetrain products.

The company’s defence activities also demonstrate that indigenous manufacturing extends beyond complete vehicles and weapons systems. Critical mechanical components and subsystems play an essential role in determining the performance, reliability and maintainability of military equipment.

A stronger domestic supply chain for such systems can support vehicle manufacturers, defence public-sector undertakings, research institutions and private defence companies.

As India develops new generations of infantry combat vehicles and armoured platforms, the availability of domestic suppliers with advanced transmission engineering expertise will remain an important industrial capability.

Strengthening India’s Indigenous Military Powertrain Ecosystem

AVTEC’s development of automatic transmissions and specialised drivetrain components represents a significant contribution to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.

The company’s AX350 transmission demonstrates indigenous expertise in tracked vehicle powertrains, while its participation in infantry combat vehicle programmes establishes a direct connection with military mobility requirements.

Its supply of Shilka transfer cases supports the maintenance of existing Indian Army equipment, and its artillery gearbox manufacturing activities extend its contribution into another important defence segment.

Supported by research facilities in Hosur and Pithampur and specialised engineering expertise through ASSAG, AVTEC has established a broad technical foundation in power transmission technology.

India’s progress towards defence self-reliance depends not only on manufacturing complete military platforms but also on developing the sophisticated mechanical systems that enable them to operate effectively.

AVTEC’s expanding capabilities in automatic transmissions, precision gearing and military drivetrain engineering contribute to this objective, strengthening the domestic industrial foundation for India’s present and future combat vehicle programmes.

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References

All sources listed below are official AVTEC publications.

1. AVTEC Limited – Defence Division
Official information on indigenous automatic transmissions, infantry combat vehicles, ATAGS splitter gearboxes and Shilka transfer cases.
https://www.avtec.in/defence.php

2. AVTEC Limited – Off-Highway Transmissions
Official technical specifications for the AX350 automatic transmission and other transmission products.
https://www.avtec.in/off-highway.php

3. AVTEC Limited – Industrial Transmission Portfolio
Product information covering high-power transmissions, including the AH8700 and 5600/6600 series.
https://www.avtec.in/avtec-off-highway-transmissions.php

4. AVTEC Limited – Research and Development Capabilities
Details of the company’s engineering centres, design expertise, testing facilities and technological capabilities.
https://www.avtec.in/area-of-excellence.php

5. AVTEC Limited – Corporate Profile
Company background, manufacturing facilities, industrial activities and research infrastructure.
https://www.avtec.in/aboutus.php

6. AVTEC Limited – ASSAG Engineering Capabilities
Official information on specialised drive systems and face gear technology.
https://www.avtec.in/assag.php

7. AVTEC Limited – Corporate Brochure (2019)
Historical information on the company’s defence projects, BMP transmission development and participation in Indian military programmes.
https://www.avtec.in/pdf/Corporate%20Brochure_2019.pdf

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