Indian Army Seeks 350 Explosive Detectors, 13 Containment Vehicles for Counter-IED Push

The Indian Army has begun the process of procuring 350 portable stand-off explosive detectors and 13 total containment vehicles as part of a broader effort to improve counter-IED and force-protection capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and areas affected by Left-wing extremism.

The acquisitions are being pursued through Requests for Information issued by the Combat Engineers Directorate at Army Headquarters. The proposed purchases are intended to be taken forward under the Atmanirbhar Bharat route, reflecting the Army’s push to source more equipment from Indian industry under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

Stand-off explosive detectors

In the first case, the Army is seeking around 350 hand-held stand-off explosive detectors that can carry out what it describes as “safe stand-off inspection.” The systems must be able to identify traces of military, commercial and improvised explosives without physical contact, and provide a result within 30 seconds.

The detectors are expected to detect both organic and inorganic explosives in vapour, liquid, powder, particle and mixed forms. They must run on battery power for at least four continuous hours and include USB and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to transfer data and update explosive-detection libraries as new threat signatures are added. At this stage, the Army has not specified any particular detection technology.

The equipment is meant for use at checkpoints, critical installations, vehicle inspection points and in field conditions, giving bomb-disposal and counter-terror teams a quicker and safer way to screen suspicious objects.

The procurement will be undertaken under the Buy (Indian-IDDM), Buy (Indian) and Buy and Make (Indian) categories of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. Vendors will have to certify that at least half of the indigenous content consists of materials, components or software manufactured in India. They will also need to disclose locally made subsystems, critical spares and manufacturing capacity in India.

Equipment that meets the technical requirements will be put through field trials in India on a no-cost, no-commitment basis. After that process, the lowest-cost compliant bidder will be selected.

Total containment vehicles

Separately, the Army has sought information for 13 total containment vehicles that can transport improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance safely and, where required, neutralise them.

Each vehicle must be capable of containing an explosive with a blast effect equivalent to 8 kg of TNT. The containment chamber has been described as an “inside-out submarine” and is to be built from high-grade steel. It must be able to retain the shockwave, high-pressure gases and shrapnel within the vessel.

The vehicles must also allow liquid or vapour samples to be extracted through a vacuum-based system without external contamination. This is intended to preserve forensic evidence while keeping handling teams protected.

Wider counter-IED procurement push

The two fresh RFIs come alongside other recent requirements from the Combat Engineers Directorate. Earlier, it had sought details on about 250 telescopic manipulators that would allow bomb-disposal teams to inspect and handle suspicious objects from a distance of at least four metres.

In May, the Ministry of Defence floated a tender worth about Rs 290 crore for 386 dual-technology mine detectors that can locate both metallic and non-metallic mines as well as IEDs. In February 2025, the Army finalised an Rs 80 crore contract with Larsen & Toubro for 223 DRDO-designed chemical agent detectors.

IEDs continue to pose a threat to security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency-hit areas of the North East and districts affected by Left-wing extremism. The Army’s move to acquire stand-off detectors, remote handling systems, containment vehicles and dual-technology mine detectors is aimed at reducing troop exposure while improving the speed and forensic integrity of responses to explosive threats.