The Indian Army is placing a strong emphasis on developing indigenous technologies to meet its operational needs. This focus stems from a desire to achieve self-reliance in defense, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and ensure that the Army possesses the most advanced and relevant technologies for modern warfare. Here's a breakdown of key aspects:
- Driving Force:
- The "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative is a major driving force behind this push.
- The Army recognizes that during conflicts, only indigenously developed technologies can be fully relied upon.
- The need to counter evolving security challenges necessitates the development of local capabilities.
- Areas of Focus:
- The Army is actively pursuing projects in areas such as:
- Drone technology (including drone swarms and anti-drone systems)
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Robotics
- Quantum computing
- Advanced weapon systems
- Advanced communication systems.
- Collaboration:
- The Army is collaborating with various stakeholders, including:
- Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Indian industry (including MSMEs and startups)
- Academic institutions (like IITs and IIITs)
- Initiatives and Progress:
- The Army Design Bureau (ADB) is playing a crucial role in facilitating indigenous design and development projects.
- There's a significant increase in the number of indigenous defense industry projects.
- The Indian Army has been conducting exercises, like the "Swavlamban Shakti" exercise, to test and integrate these new indigenous technologies into their operational procedures.
In essence, the Indian Army is actively working towards modernizing its forces by leveraging the nation's technological capabilities, aiming to create a self-reliant and technologically advanced military.
