In Kashmir, India has equipped its paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force with Renault Sherpas Light Scout, a bulletproof heavy-armoured 4x4 vehicle, to deal with protesters in the territory.

Renault Sherpa in Indian service (Picture source: Hindustan Times)

In October 2017, the Hindustan Times website has published a news, that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) of India has deployed a Sherpa 4x4 armoured vehicle on a trial basis at the Delhi Airport. According to our analysis, the Indian version of the vehicle is based on the Sherpa Light but with an open cargo area at the rear. There is two doors on each side of the vehicle with additional armour fitted with small bullet-proof window and firing port in the upper part.

Standard equipment of the Indian Sherpa includes three cameras mounted on the roof of the vehicle offering 360 degree view and observation

The Sherpa Light Scout (former Sherpa 2) is one of the six versions of the Sherpa Light family of 4x4 tactical and light armoured vehicles developed by French company Renault Trucks Defense. It is powered by a 4.76 liter, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine that puts out 215 bhp of peak power and a mammoth 800 Nm of peak torque. An automatic gearbox is standard and so is a 4x4 transfer case. It has a payload of 2.2 tons.

Available in unarmoured or armoured variants (ballistic, mine and IED kits), the Scout is ideally suited for tactical missions such as scouting, patrol, convoy escort and command and liaison. It is able to transport up to four or five soldiers, or a total payload of up to 4 tonnes. It has been introduced for the first time in Kashmir by the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The Renault Sherpa was brought to Kashmir two months ago and has been part of some operations in south Kashmir. In October 2017, the Hindustan Times reported that the Delhi airport had deployed Renault Sherpas to deal with any attack.