Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
{{short description|Indian military vehicle manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
| logo = File:VFJ official logo.jpg
| logo_size = 150px
| type = Defence Vehicles Manufacturer
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1969}}
| location =
| key_people = Ashok Gupta, IOFS
(Chief General Manager)
| industry = Defence
| products = Military vehicles
| num_employees = 2,600
| parent = Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (current)
Ordnance Factories Board (former)
| homepage =
}}
Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (Hindi: वाहन निर्माणी जबलपुर), is a military motor vehicle factory, located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited which was previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board, controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.{{cite web|url=http://ofb.gov.in/index.php?wh=ourunits&lang=en |title=Indian Ordnance Factories: Our Factories |publisher=Ofb.gov.in |access-date=2012-08-06}}
History
The production of Shaktiman trucks (MAN 415 L1 AR), Jonga (Jabalpur Ordnance and Guncarriage Assembly) Light Utility Vehicles and the Vahan 1 ton (Nissan 4W73 Carrier), began at the Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, in 1959.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121008010217/http://ofbgcf.nic.in/achieve.html] Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, was present to witness rolling out of the first batch of vehicles at GCF. It was shifted to the present location in 1969.{{cite web|url=http://ofb.gov.in/units/index.php?unit=vfj&page=about&lang=en |title=Indian Ordnance Factories: Vehicle Factory Jabalpur |publisher=Ofb.gov.in |access-date=2012-08-06}}
It started manufacturing Shaktiman trucks with license from MAN SE of Germany, {{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Military-Vehicles-and-Logistics/Shaktiman-4-x-4-4-000-kg-truck-India.html |title=Shaktiman (4 x 4) 4,000 kg truck (India) - Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics |publisher=Jane's Information Group|date=2012-03-19 |access-date=2012-08-06}} along with Jonga{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Military-Vehicles-and-Logistics/JONGA-4-x-4-0-25-ton-light-vehicle-India.html|title=JONGA (4 x 4) 0.25 ton light vehicle (India), Light vehicles|publisher=Jane's Information Group|access-date=2012-08-07}}{{cite news|url=http://myjonga.com/news.html|title=MYJONGA.COM |publisher=Abhilash Nambiar|access-date=2012-08-06}} and Vahan 1 ton under license from Nissan of Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/22/stories/2008052250330300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613064606/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/22/stories/2008052250330300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-06-13 |title=Metro Plus Coimbatore / Wheels : Monster on the move |date=2008-05-22 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2012-08-06}}
All three of the above products have been retired and replaced by the new products.{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jabalpur-auto-parts-makers-facing-tough-times/371305/ |title=Jabalpur auto parts makers facing tough times |publisher=Business-standard.com |date=2009-09-26 |access-date=2012-08-06}}
Products
VFJ manufactures and assembles general staff vehicles, logistics vehicles, light armoured vehicles like bullet-proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles{{Cite web|title=VFJ to provide upgraded Mine Protected Vehicles against Naxals|url=https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/12/28/VFJ-to-provide-upgraded-Mine-Protected-Vehicles-against-Naxals.html|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.thehitavada.com|language=en}} and specialist role vehicles such as rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, 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.
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- Rocket launchers for Pinaka and Smerch with OFAJ
- 5/7.5 Ton Stallion Mk-IV BS-III
- 2.5 Ton LPTA 715 BS-III
- Water Bowser 2 KL on LPTA
- Water Bowser 5 KL on Stallion
- Kitchen Container on Stallion
- Field Ambulance on LPTA
- Light Recovery Vehicle (LRV)
- Field Artillery Tractor (FAT)
- Yuktirath – Light Armoured Recovery Vehicle
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- Truck-mounted AK-630 CIWS with OFMK
- 5 KL Fuel Tanker on Stallion
- 2 KL Fuel Tanker on LPTA
- Battery Command Post (BCP)
- Mobile AC Generators
- Operation Theatre on wheels
- Mobile Decontamination Unit
- Tipper on Stallion
- Tipper on LPTA
- Aditya – India's first Mine Protected Vehicle
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- Self-propelled Dhanush and Sharang guns and their tractors with GCF
- Matang
- Trishul
- Flyer ITV
- Caravan
- Drill Rig
- Humsafar Buses (Long & Medium)
- Fire fighting variants of Stallion and LPTA
- Bullet-proofing of 407, LPTA, Gypsy, Ambassador
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Gallery
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Matang Truck for the Indian Army.jpg|Matang Truck for the Indian Army
File:JVF-Mounted-M40-Anti-Tank-Gun.jpg|Jonga mounted with 105 mm RCL guns which destroyed most of the tanks during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Tipper on Shaktiman.jpg|Jabalpur Vehicle Factory (VFJ )'s Tipper on Shaktiman; India's first 3-way tipper was built on the Shaktiman platform
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Stallion Truck for the Indian Army.jpg|Stallion Mark I, now being replaced by Stallion Mark IV
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s 5KL Water Bowser.jpg|5000 Litres Water Bowser
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s 2KL Water Bowser.jpg|2000 Litres Water Bowser on LPTA
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s LPTA 715 Truck for the Indian Army.jpg|LPTA 715
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Mine Protected Vehicle.jpg|4X4 Mine Protected Vehicle, also in 6X6 configuration, with RCWS, recce and recovery variants
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Bullet Proof Vehicle.jpg|4X4 Bullet Proof Vehicle
File:JVF-Chandigarh-Police-Kavach.jpg|LPTA Armoured variant
File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Bullet Proof 407.jpg|4X4 Riot Control Vehicle
File:Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade-2016, in New Delhi on January 23, 2016.jpg|Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System
File:Nuclear Biological Chemical Water Purification System passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade-2012, in New Delhi on January 23, 2012.jpg|Nuclear Biological Chemical Water Purification System
File:Mobile Base Transceiver Station passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day Parade 2018, in New Delhi on January 26, 2018.jpg|Mobile Base Transceiver Station
File:2.5 ton (1).jpg|LPTA Field Ambulance
File:Pinaka MBRL.jpg|6X6 multi-barrel rocket launcher, soon to be produced
File:VFJ-GCF 105 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System.jpg|VFJ-GCF 105 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System, in 6X6 and 4X4 configurations
File:Fire power demo by Artillery of Indian Army.jpg|VFJ-GCF Sharang Towed Gun
File:VFJ Flyer Internally-Transportable Vehicle (ITV), Light Strike Vehicle (LSV).jpg|Flyer Internally-Transportable Vehicle (ITV), Light Strike Vehicle (LSV)
File:Dhanush howitzer during Republic Day Parade 2017.jpg|6X6 Dhanush Field artillery tractor
File:OFB-BEML 155 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System.jpg|VFJ-GCF 8X8 155 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System
File:BM-30 Smerch MLRS.jpg|High Mobility Vehicle Launching Platform for Smerch Rockets, the same used for Pinaka
Technology
VFJ 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 the Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces,{{cite web|url=http://bprd.nic.in/index3.asp?sslid=390&subsublinkid=125&lang=1 |title=Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) |publisher=Bprd.nic.in |access-date=2012-08-06}} 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
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Vehicle Factory Jabalpur}}
{{Ordnance Factories Board}}
{{automotive industry in India}}
Category:Bus manufacturers of India
Category:Car manufacturers of India
Category:Defence companies of India
Category:Military vehicle manufacturers
Category:Truck manufacturers of India
Category:Companies based in Kolkata
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1969
Category:Ministry of Defence (India)
Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in India
Category:Buildings and structures in Jabalpur