Indian Border Police to get the best off-roading Polaris snowmobiles

The Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) will employ the snowmobiles after they’ve sealed the contract with Polaris (an American manufacturer of snowmobiles) to guard the ice-capped spots along the Indo-Chinese frontier. They will be procuring five such snowmobiles to patrol the border. This is the first time that such snowmobiles that are usually used for tourist purposes up north and by defense forces for training, will be used for operational roles by Indian Security forces.

The black and white Polaris snowmobile, 325 mm in length, is powered by a twin cylinder carbureted 544cc engine and will come with features like hand and thumb warmers, heated passenger grips, reverse gear, hydraulic brakes, carbureted ignition system and over 41 litres of fuel capacity. These snowmobiles will be able to patrol the heavily snowclad regions of the Himalayas during the harsh winter months.

The snowmobile that is capable of negotiating a slope up to 45 degree on the hills can carry two personnel (rider and pillion) with ammunition in tow. The snowmobile would also provide soldiers with much required quick mobility, carriage capacity at the troubling heights and will be helpful in patrolling, troop support and casualty evacuation.

“These snow scooters have been procured as part of the modernisation of the force to better equip the personnel on ground in rendering their duties in the hard areas they serve. These will act as force multipliers,” ITBP spokesperson Deputy Commandant Vivek K Pandey told PTI.

These modern snowmobiles are also used globally by security forces that have icy terrains to guard.