2 weeks Ago By Sakshi Sadashiv K
Explainer Briefly Slides We missed this earlier: Last month, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi announced the Indian Army’s digitisation and modernisation efforts to develop “Smart Soldiers”, reported ANI . General Dwivedi was speaking at the 64th National Defence College (NDC) Course. General Dwivedi spoke on the theme “Decade of Transformation: Indian Army in Stride with the Future and Nation Building.
” He highlighted these modernisation goals as part of India’s vision for a self-reliant, future-ready military by 2047. This supports the broader “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) objective. He stated “Indian Army recognises that to be a significant participant in defining the world order, our responsibilities, opportunities and expectations would span across expanded strategic horizons”.
He further added “While the economic power remains the fountainhead of growth of a nation, yet it is the military strength that lends it the ability to affect the outcomes necessary to protect and further its interests”. What is the Indian Army’s Vision? General Dwivedi stated that the Indian Army Vision is “to transform into a modern, agile, adaptive technology enabled and self-reliant future ready force capable to deter and win wars in a multi-domain operational environment across full spectrum of operations to protect the national interests..
”. Dwivedi stated that the Army’s modernisation and technological upgrades rely heavily on Atma Nirbharta (self-sufficiency). He noted that 85% of equipment will be sourced from Indian suppliers.
Ammunition will be completely indigenised by 2030: General Dwivedi “134 out of 175 categories are indigenised”, stated Dwivedi. The Army aims to fully indigenise its ammunition requirements by 2030. “Every Soldier must have a drone to himself”: General Dwivedi The Army plans to expand its cyber, electronic warfare, and intelligence operations.
It will establish the Army Knowledge & Enabler Corps and enhance linguistic and cyber capabilities. Dwivedi said that the Force is working towards developing ‘smart soldier’ with every soldier equipped with the “drone to himself”. The Army has also introduced simulation and virtual reality training modules to elevate soldiers’ technical skills.
In the speech , General Dwivedi announced this initiative’s focus will emphasise on systems like the F-INSAS (Futuristic Infantry Soldier as a System). This system intends to enhance operational capabilities. These upgrades aim to prepare the Army for future conflicts, especially in high-altitude and diverse terrains.
Planned advancements include improved surveillance through nano drones and satellite technology, along with R&D centers dedicated to drone innovation. Precision strike capabilities will also see enhancements, focusing on accuracy, long-range munitions, and thorough post-strike assessments. The Army will be upgrading its communications infrastructure with Software Defined Radios, SAMBHAV secure networks, and anti-drone technology.
New assets like light tanks and swarm drones will bolster operational readiness. Logistics will improve through logistic drones, robotic mules, and a tri-service approach to inventory management. General Dwivedi outlined structural changes to optimize command and training with Rebal 1.
5. Rebal 2.0 will address evolving Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic (DIME) dependencies.
India’s Defence Deal for Predator Drones Last month , the Indian government signed a deal with the United States to acquire 31 Predator drones for Rs 32,000 crore to bolster its military capabilities. The Indian government’s deal to acquire 31 Predator drones from the U.S.
highlights gaps in India’s self-sufficiency goals for military drones. Despite Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) efforts in UAV development, issues like prototype crashes, delays, and cost overruns highlight gaps in indigenous drone production. MediaNama noted that Drone startup ideaForge reported lower drone orders from the government, with CEO Ankit Mehta indicating a shift towards international markets to sustain profitability amidst reduced domestic demand.
This raises questions about achieving Atma Nirbharta in UAV capabilities. Read More:.
