Army to use drone tech for border surveillance: Lt Gen A Sengupta
unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) and high-tech cameras while reserving troops primarily for ground operations in the near future. The announcement was made by
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta
, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C), Central Command, on Tuesday during the inauguration of Surya Drona Tech 2025, a two-day defence technology event in Dehradun, jointly organised by the Army and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). The event concludes on Wednesday.
"The use of drones in warfare is increasing, as is being witnessed in the Ukraine-Russia war," said Lt Gen Sengupta, adding, "The rise of this technology is unconventional but highly disruptive and effective for the defence forces. We, in the Army, are looking for high-altitude and rugged UAVs to protect our soldiers while proving their utility."
"All 26 passes along the LAC are currently under round-the-clock surveillance using modern technology. Efforts are on to ensure that in future, the boots on the ground would be utilised for operation while border surveillance is done only through technology," he added.
Calling the event an important milestone, Lt Gen Sengupta said, "We look forward to Uttarakhand becoming a hub for drone manufacturing in the country, and meet the requirements of the armed forces."
The event features 42 stalls by drone and defence tech manufacturers showcasing a wide array of products ranging from technology to secure meeting rooms that can detect and disable mobile phones without alerting users, systems capable of tracking foreign mobile activity in border areas to exoskeleton suits to assist troops in climbing hilly terrain.
Key highlights from the first day included live demonstrations of newly inducted robotic dogs referred to as multi-utility legged equipment (MULE) and UAVs designed for airlifting injured personnel during military operations.
Among those who attended the inaugural event were Uttarakhand governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), SIDM president Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, Commandant of Indian Military Academy (IMA), General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Uttar Bharat Area Lt Gen D G Misra, GOC Uttarakhand sub-area Maj Gen R Prem Raj, and other senior defence officers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
MahaMetro Likely to Begin Construction of SIDM in Mihan by Mid-Nov
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: The much-awaited State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM), proposed to come up in Nagpur's MIHAN area, is likely to see construction begin by mid-November this year. Officials from Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro), which is the implementing agency for the Rs187.73 crore project, confirmed that the basic structural and design planning is complete. MahaMetro officials informed that the initial planning phase is nearing completion. "The basic structural framework and the detailed design plan are prepared. These, along with all other required documentation, are now being forwarded to the state disaster management committee for review," an official said. The state committee will examine the submitted plans and recommend necessary changes, if any. Officials added that once the feedback is received, the design will be modified accordingly and then finalised. Only after this final nod, the remaining processes such as tendering and other formalities will be initiated. "We anticipate that the approval and procedural clearances will be completed within the next few months. If all goes as planned, we are targeting to begin construction work on the ground by mid-November," the official said. The SIDM will be built on a 10-acre plot in the non-SEZ area of MIHAN, which falls under the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pirates Climb Aboard Cargo Ship - Watch What The Captain Did Next Tips and Tricks Undo Once developed, the institute will serve as the nodal agency for disaster training, preparedness, and planning for the entire state. It will function along the lines of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in Delhi and will also complement the recently operational State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Mumbai. While SEOC will handle live disaster response coordination, SIDM will provide long-term support in terms of research, training modules, simulations, and policy planning. The project was approved by the state cabinet in December 2023 under the leadership of the then-deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and will be funded through the state disaster prevention budget. The State Disaster Management Authority, chaired by the chief secretary, will provide oversight, while MahaMetro will be entitled to up to 5% of the project cost as implementation charges. Officials believe the SIDM will be a landmark institution for Maharashtra's disaster preparedness and will significantly boost the state's ability to deal with emergencies in a structured and well-trained manner.
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr
New Delhi: After Operation Sindoor, India's defense upgrades are speeding ahead like a bullet train. With over Rs 3 lakh crore being pumped into military modernisation, the government is on a mission to acquire or indigenously develop fighter jets, submarines and advanced missile systems. One by one, big-ticket purchases are being cleared, and the pace is relentless. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence approved military procurements worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in one go. Among them, Rs 44,000 crore has been set aside for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels and Rs 36,000 crore has been sanctioned for six regiments of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system, better known as QRSAM. These six QRSAM regiments will be split evenly between the Indian Air Force and the Army. But here is the twist. This is only a fraction of what the armed forces actually asked for. The Army had demanded 11 regiments. What they got was only three. The Air Force's separate demand? Also unmet. If both services were to receive the full complement, 11 regiments each, the total cost would have soared to Rs 1.12 lakh crore. But the government stopped short. Enter the 'Baby S-400' Apart from being a missile defense system, QRSAM is being nicknamed the 'Baby S-400'. India already has three operational regiments of Russia's S-400 system and expects two more by next year. But defense planners know that S-400s and indigenous Akash systems alone cannot transform the country into a secure fortress. The threat matrix has changed. China is watching, and so is Pakistan. And they are not standing still. Operation Sindoor proved India's air defense muscle. But it also exposed gaps, ones that Pakistan tried to exploit through waves of drone incursions, many supplied by Turkey and China. Hundreds were launched. All were neutralised. But the lesson stuck – air defense needs to be multi-layered, relentless and everywhere. That is where the QRSAM fits in. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is built to intercept fighters, drones and helicopters within a 30 km radius. Not as long-range as the S-400's 400 km or Akash's 100-200 km reach, but perfect for quick and short-range airspace protection in dense threat environments. More importantly, it's Indian-made, fast, precise and combat-ready. Not Enough for a Fortress At Rs 6,000 crore per regiment, scaling up to the Army's full demand alone would cost Rs 66,000 crore. Add the Air Force's likely mirror request and you are staring at a Rs 1.12 lakh crore bill. Expensive? Yes. But what is the price of making the skies over India completely off-limits to 5th-gen fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles or worse? With full deployment, India's air defense would shift from deterrence to denial. Nothing would be able to breach the perimeter. During Operation Sindoor, India's air defenses held. But in military planning, holding is never enough. The military is not asking for luxury, it is asking for survivability. Against future drone swarms, supersonic fighters or long-range missile salvos, six regiments are just a start. If the government greenlights the remaining 16 regiments, the Army and the Air Force both, it would send a message that India is preparing. And once QRSAM rings the nation's skies, even the birds will need clearance to fly.
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Flying up to 21 thousand feet height, speed of 235 KM/hour, 126 LUH will join the Indian Army fleet, Ladakh and Siachen will now be….
HAL Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) HAL Light Utility Helicopters: In a significant development for the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Army is planning to replace its aging fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with 126 newly developed Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As per the recent update, the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) procurement deal is in its final stages and is expected to receive official approval soon. Here are all the details you need to know about HAL's newly developed Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). Why are Light Utility Helicopters helpful? Marking a major step toward modernization of the Army's aerial capabilities, these LUHs are fully designed and manufactured in India by HAL and are specially built to perform in mountainous and high-altitude terrains. The helicopters can operate at elevations up to 6,500 metres (21,300 feet), have a top speed of 235 km/h, and a range of 350 km per flight. Why India requires Light Utility Helicopters? Due to to the advanced features, the HAL LUHs will significantly enhance the Army's operational readiness in difficult areas such as Ladakh and Siachen. HAL receives first set of wing assemblies for LCA Mk1A In another significant update relating to HAL and Indian Air Force, the first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro, was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement. As per a report by news agency ANI, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar attended the event virtually, as General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam received the assemblies on behalf of HAL from the Precision Manufacturing and Systems Complex unit of L&T. In his address, the Secretary (Defence Production) commended the efforts of HAL and L&T towards achieving self-reliance. He hailed HAL for spearheading collaboration with different private sector partners, nurturing them and ensuring enhanced capability. (With inputs from agencies)
