Indian Army Completes First VT-72B Armoured Recovery Vehicle Overhaul with Private Partner

The Indian Army achieved a significant milestone on September 17, 2025, with the rollout of its first overhauled Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) VT-72B from the 512 Army Base Workshop in Pune. The project marked a notable example of defence-industry collaboration, with Airbornics Defence & Space Private Limited (ADSL), a JCBL Group subsidiary, serving as the sole industry partner.

The overhaul project involved comprehensive refurbishment of the vehicle's utility portion, requiring complete dismantling, replacement of critical components, and repair or substitution of Major Unit Assemblies. ADSL's engineering team worked alongside Army personnel throughout the process to maintain stringent quality standards.

Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General Sustenance, praised the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers for their work and recognized JCBL Group and ADSL's contribution to the project. The achievement demonstrates the potential for expanded private sector involvement in military equipment maintenance and modernization.

"We are honoured to partner with the Indian Army for the overhaul of the VT-72B. This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting India's defence readiness with world-class engineering expertise and infrastructure," stated Rishi Aggarwal, Managing Director of JCBL Group.

The ceremonial flag-off ceremony drew attendance from senior military leadership, including Lt Gen JS Sidana, Director General of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Maj Gen Lalit Kapoor, Commander Base Workshop Group, and Maj Gen PS Bindra, MGEME Southern Command. JCBL Group was represented by Director Sanjeev Babbar and Chief Operating Officer Col. Rajwinder Singh (Retd).

The successful completion of this project may pave the way for increased public-private partnerships in defence equipment maintenance and modernization initiatives across the Indian Armed Forces.