Jetpack suits, portable helipads and precision munitions: Army to induct niche tech in 2 years

Officials said niche technologies like a range of drones for varying purposes, quantum communications, Electronic Intelligence Systems, Software Defined Radios, improved habitat in high altitude areas including environment-healthy waste disposal, jetpack suits, fast patrol boats, precision guided munitions of different calibres, lightweight armour, unmanned ground vehicles, robotic mules and Augmented Reality-based training aids are going to be inducted in the Army in the next two years.

Other modern technologies — which are being developed under various schemes — include light tanks for engaging targets in mountains, tactical communication systems, future-ready combat vehicle and terminal-end-secrecy device for end-to-end secure transmission of voice, data and text to enable formation commanders to disseminate classified material.

The list of the niche technologies which are in various stages of development also include Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Target (MEAT), Upgraded Assault Track Way, Terminal Guidance Munitions, Multirole Precision Kill System, Directed Energy Weapon System (DEWS), Armoured Fighting Vehicle Protection and Counter Drone systems.

All these projects are either funded by the government or by the industry and in various stages of development.

(Also in works are projects under the defence ministry’s iDEX programme which seeks to foster innovations and encourage technological development in defence and aerospace by engaging R&D institutes, academia, industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators and providing them grants or funding and other support.)

Presently 46 projects of the Army costing Rs 400 crore including grant-in-aid and procurement of prototypes are in process. “Till now, four contracts have been signed worth Rs 70 crore for procurement of equipment in limited quantities,” an official said.

Officials told The Indian Express that an individual protection system for the troops on ground, portable helipad which can be transported easily to difficult terrains in high altitude areas, low light imaging sensor, a ramjet technology for the Army’s 155mm guns are projects which are at an advanced stage of development or induction.

They added that 68 schemes worth Rs 6,600 crore were signed in the first three tranches of Emergency Procurement and as part of the fourth tranche, 49 schemes worth Rs 7,600 crore, have been contracted which will bring in capabilities ranging from mobility solutions to communication systems, energy solutions, individual protective equipment, drones and counter drones, armament, and simulators.

The emergency procurement for a range of defence platforms were initiated by the government in the last three years.