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In a significant development for India’s defence exports, officials from the Hellenic Army General Staff met with representatives of the Tata Group on 12 December 2025 to discuss the potential induction of the WhAP 8×8 armoured vehicle.
The primary focus of the meeting in Athens was to arrange a temporary deployment of the vehicle to Greece, enabling the Greek Army to conduct rigorous technical and operational trials.
The proposed evaluation aims to test the Tata Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) under local environmental conditions.
By subjecting the vehicle to these trials, the Hellenic Army intends to verify its mobility, crew protection levels, and suitability for Greece's unique geography, which includes rugged mainland terrain and numerous island territories requiring amphibious capabilities.
Strategic Timing Following Export Success
This pitch to European markets follows a major commercial victory for Tata Advanced Systems in North Africa.In late December 2025, the company successfully handed over the first batch of WhAP 8×8 vehicles to the Royal Moroccan Army.
These vehicles were manufactured at a newly established facility in Berrechid, Morocco, marking India's first large-scale overseas defence manufacturing plant.
The successful delivery to Morocco has served as a strong endorsement of the platform's reliability and performance.
It has effectively positioned the WhAP as a credible contender in the global market, particularly for nations looking to replace aging tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) with more versatile and cost-effective wheeled alternatives.
Modernisation of the Hellenic Army
Greece is currently exploring options to modernise its mechanised infantry and rapid reaction forces.The country faces the challenge of replacing legacy Cold War-era platforms, such as older M113 armoured personnel carriers and BMP-1 fighting vehicles.
The Tata WhAP is being presented as a solution that offers superior strategic mobility and lower lifecycle costs compared to heavier tracked systems, factors that are increasingly critical for modern defence budgets.
Capabilities of the WhAP 8×8
The WhAP, often referred to domestically as the 'Kestrel', is an indigenous platform developed jointly by Tata Advanced Systems and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).It is designed as a modular vehicle capable of undertaking diverse roles, including:
- Amphibious Operations: The vehicle features dedicated water jets, allowing it to cross water obstacles and operate in island environments—a key requirement for Greek defence planning.
- Combat Versatility: It can be configured as an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) with a 30mm cannon, a command post, or a reconnaissance vehicle.
- Protection: The platform offers scalable ballistic armour and mine protection, ensuring crew survivability in high-threat zones.
- Mobility: Powered by a 600 hp engine, the 8×8 configuration ensures high speeds on roads and substantial off-road capability.
For Greece, the evaluation represents a step towards enhancing its operational readiness with a combat-proven, globally emerging platform.
