Stresses on indigenous R&D for critical tech
New Delhi, Apr 24:
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande on Wednesday underlined the vital need of being self-reliant in war fighting platforms and systems, besides achieving self-sufficiency in critical technologies through indigenous Research & Development.
Inaugurating a seminar cum exhibition on the theme “Year of Technology Absorption – Empowering the Soldier” conducted by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) on behalf of the Indian Army at the Manekshaw Centre, Gen Pande emphasised that the technology has emerged as the new strategic arena of competition which drives geo-political power play.
He also said that technology is being leveraged for weaponisation of varied domains, ranging from Information to Supply Chains.
Citing examples from recent conflicts, the COAS mentioned that disruptive and dual use technologies are proliferating at unprecedented scale and transforming the Character of Modern Wars.
He mentioned that a suite of digital technologies encompassing Electronic Warfare, Micro-electronics, Drones, Precision Attack Systems, Loiter Munitions and Star-link Terminals are challenging traditional force multipliers.
Gen Pande reiterated the commitment of Indian Army to continue its pursuit towards transitioning into a modern, agile, adaptive and technology enabled future ready force.
He urged all stakeholders, the Services, industry partners, start-ups, Research & Development institutions, academia and policy makers to synergise their efforts and develop a vibrant national defence eco-system.
The seminar aimed at fostering a collaborative environment for academia and the defence industry to fast-pace the ongoing initiatives for technological absorption in the military.
The event brought together technology experts and industry professionals to deliberate on the adoption of modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence and advanced hardware in the military domain.
The seminar was conducted in three sessions with the first session focussed on “Contemporary Technology and Industry Capabilities “; the second session focussed on “Empowering Soldiers: Amplifying Impact Through Modern Technologies” and the final session was on “Maximising Technology Effectiveness & Soldier Preparedness”.
The proceedings underscored the importance of technology absorption in empowering soldiers besides providing a snapshot of available solutions and highlighted the contributions of the Indian Defence Industry, delineating their strengths, future trajectories, and their pivotal role in ensuring future ready armed forces.
