Indian Army: In Quest of Greater Firepower and Policy Recommendations for Gaps

Charting the Future under General Manoj Pande's Vision for a Tech-Driven Army, the Indian Army is driving ahead for Next-Gen Combat Capabilities

- MANISH KUMAR JHA

RECENTLY, ARMY CHIEF GENERAL Manoj Pande highlighted the Army’s commitment to harnessing cutting-edge and disruptive technologies to enhance battle-field effectiveness. Coming from the Corps of Engineers, and having commanded the entire spectrum spanning from western theatre, and Infantry brigade along LoC to a mountain division in the Ladakh sector and Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, he is the force of change, putting technology at the heart of battlefield.

General Pande often remarks on radical shifts in warfare and plans for integrating new-age techs like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), space and smart autonomous systems speak volumes about his intentions. With the recent adoption and establishment of the cutting-edge 5G testbed and a dedicated Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Military College of Technology, Mhow reflects the seriousness of adopting emerging technologies.

In the range of autonomous and futuristic technologies, the Indian Army is focusing on the field of Robotics, with a particular emphasis on man-unmanned team solutions, unarmed combat solutions, and robotic mules. The Army has already procured the piloted aircraft systems for robotic process automation (RPA) and counter-RPA solutions which are loaded with nano and micro drones. The quest for military-grade UAVs and anti-drone systems has materialised but it needs high altitude capabilities— at 4,000 to 6,000 --and greater range.

However, while Indian Army (IA) strengthens its futuristic roadmap, what is still lacking is a speedier mechanism for the core platforms like the Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) and Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) by 2030.