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In its efforts towards becoming a technologically-intensive force by induction as well as through absorption of new and emerging technologies for meeting the needs for future warfare, the Army has identified 16 tech clusters comprising subject specialists, officials privy to the matter told The Indian Express.
As per officials, one of the planned tech clusters will be on certain emerging technologies which are at a conceptual stage, such as those concerning stealth and anti-stealth, sensing technology, energy and propulsion, nanotechnology, hypersonic and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN).
Deep research on some of these technologies are currently underway globally even as some global militaries have implemented some of these technologies.
Other technology clusters would be on cyber, space, automation or digitisation, quantum, Internet of Things (IoT), along with 5G and 6G, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, directed energy weapons—which uses focused electromagnetic energy to take out enemy systems—among other counter unmanned aerial systems.
There have also been clusters planned on technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to create immersive combat situations to practise tactical responses, decision-making and creation of strategies in a real combat scenario, unmanned ground and aerial systems to be used for surveillance and even targeting of enemy systems, blockchain for data security, threat analysis, removing delays and counterfeit components for better supply chain management.
The remaining tech clusters would be on artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, loitering munition system, mine detection and diffusion, camouflage and concealment and 3D printing infrastructure.
As per the officials, last month, the Army has sought details from all its commands of officers who are either qualified or hold a specialisation in these technologies.
This was among the key issues discussed in the Army Commanders Conference in April this year.
At the event, it was decided that procedural transformation will be undertaken to ensure induction and absorption of niche technology towards futuristic capability development with a focus on self-reliance and that will include upscaling the innovation potential of the Army Design Bureau and establishing Army Design Bureau Cells at Command Headquarters.
A statement issued by the government at that time had said that it is aimed at empowering Command Headquarters, formations and unit commanders in facilitating greater outreach to the industry and identification/ trials of niche technology.
It was also decided to create a separate fund head and nominate test bed brigades and formations to ensure greater efficiency and continuity in trials and finalisation of trial reports of these technologies.
To ensure that niche technologies are not only inducted but also internalised by the existing manpower, the Army commanders had also decided to revise and attune human resource management policies to facilitate absorption of such technologies with matching training infrastructure.
“The revised policy will be more innovative towards meeting the requirements of a tech-enabled future-ready Indian Army,” the government had said.
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