Vehicle Factory Jabalpur

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur

Type	Government
Industry	Defence
Founded	Jabalpur, India (1969)
Headquarters	Kolkata, India
Key people	T. T. S. Kripavenkatesan, IOFS (General Manager)
Products	Military vehicles
Number of employees	~6000
Parent	Ordnance Factories Board
Website	www.vfj.nic.in

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) (Hindi: वाहन निर्माणी जबलपुर), is a military motor vehicle manufacturing company located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, functioning under the aegis of Ordnance Factories Board controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. ^[1] The company is headed only by an IOFS officer called General Manager (ex officio Additional Secretary to Government of India) who is the Chief Executive Officer responsible for the overall management of the company and is the main judicial authority.^[2] VFJ is the sole supplier of B vehicles to the Indian Army.

History

The production of Shaktiman trucks, Jonga Light Utility Vehicles and Vahan 1 ton began at the Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur in 1959.^[3] Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India was present to witness rolling of the first batch of vehicles at GCF. It was shifted to the present location in 1969.^[4] It started manufacturing Shaktiman trucks with license from MAN SE of Germany^[5] along with Jonga^[6][7] and Vahan 1 ton under license from Nissan of Japan.^[8] All three of the above products have been retired and replaced by the new products.^[9]

Products

VFJ manufactures and assembles general staff vehicles, logistics vehicles, light armoured vehicles like bullet-proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles and specialist role vehicles such as water bowsers, fuel tankers, field ambulances, tippers, battery command posts, generator sets, light recovery vehicles, field artillery tractors, kitchen containers etc. It also has some variants for civilian applications.

Past Products and their variants

Matang was completely developed and manufactured by VFJ.  Petrol Jonga was manufactured by VFJ until 1999.  Jonga Re-Engineered with a Diesel engine was introduced in 1999.  India's first 3-way tipper was built on the Shaktiman platform.  Field Artillery Tractor on Shaktiman's chassis.  Shaktiman's production was stopped in 1997.  Vahan 1 Ton  Flyer ITV was manufactured in collaboration with Marvin Group, USA, but could be productionised.

Present Products and their variants
5000 Litres Water Bowser on Stallion  2000 Litres Water Bowser on LPTA  Kitchen Container on Stallion  Light Recovery Vehicle on Stallion  Field Ambulance on LPTA  Caravan for Army  LPTA 713, now being replaced by LPTA 715  Stallion Mark I, now being replaced by Stallion Mark IV

Technology

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur has an R&D centre responsible for development of future vehicles and related technologies. It has tie-ups with Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors. Its research partner is Vehicle Research & Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Customers

Since VFJ produces defence vehicles, its primary customers are Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces,^[10] State Armed Police Forces, Paramilitary Forces of India and Special Forces of India which have land based operations. It also supplies vehicles to civilians, government and private organisations.

References