DRDO Sarvatra

     Notes: The Sarvatra is a truck-mounted bridgelaying system.  Such lighter bridgelaying systems are becoming more common due to their lower cost and expandability.  Development began in 1994, and first deliveries in 1999. It replaced the PMS, which required 57 Tatra trucks to deploy a 100-meter bridge.

     The Sarvatra uses the Tatra T-815 VVN 8x8 truck, modified to carry the bridging and bridgelaying equipment as well as being able to be driven from either end.  The bridge is deployable to 75 meters, in 15-meter sections per vehicle.  (This therefore requires 5 trucks for a full span.) The sections are scissor-deployed. The bridge is 4 meters wide.  The bridge can be recovered or laid from either end.  The roadway is MLC 70, able to handle any vehicle in India's inventory and almost any other country's inventory. The bridge is light but sturdy, made of aluminum alloy.  The sections rest on adjustable trestles, which may be varied in height from 2.5 to 6 meters.  The sections may also be rested on the ground on logs or rocks, and placed just underwater to camouflage the bridge.

     An alternate bridge may be carried; this has a 20-meter section and deployable to 100 meters. 

     A drawback is the time required to deploy; 150 minutes are required to place a full 75 or 100-meter span.  The vehicles statted below are for a single truck with a single span and two trestles.  Being a version of the Tatra T-815 VVN, the truck has a Tatra 3-390-51 265-horsepower engine, with an automatic transmission and power steering. The cabs have full NBC Overpressure and air conditioning and heating.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

15-Meter Span

$815,513

D, G, AvG, A

5 tons

20.9 tons

4

13

Headlights

Shielded (Cabs only)

20-Meter Span

$884,314

D, G, AvG, A

6 tons

25.08 tons

4

21

Headlights

Shielded (Cabs only)

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

15-Meter Span

112/56

31/20

460

96

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF1  HS1  HR1

20-Meter Span

110/56

31/19

460

96

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF1  HS1  HR1