Technological Penetration in Indian Army

The Indian Army is embracing disruptive tech like AI and drones for better decision-making, communication, and battlefield awareness. They’re even collaborating with the government to develop indigenous 5G and 6G solutions for the future.

Tags: GS Paper-3 – Indigenization of Technology- Defence Technology, GS Paper – 2- Government Policies & Interventions

For Prelims: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, Department of Military Affairs (DMA) , Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, S-400 Air Defence Systems, Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft.

For Mains: Indigenisation of Defence Sector, Challenges Related to the Defence Sector, Technological Absorption in India’s Defence Sector.

Table of Contents

Context:

The Indian Army has designated the year 2024 as the ‘Year of Technology Absorption’. This initiative emphasises the Army’s unwavering commitment to adopting technology to revolutionise itself and stay ahead of adversaries amidst the changing nature of warfare.
The absorption will primarily focus on disruptive technology (DT), encompassing artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous weapon systems like drones, sensors, robotics, space technology, and hypersonic weapon systems.

What are the Different Aspects of Disruptive Technology in the Defence Sector?

Disruptive technology refers to innovations that fundamentally alter industries or sectors, often rendering previous technologies obsolete and reshaping traditional practices.
In the defence sector, disruptive technologies have the potential to revolutionise warfare, redefine military capabilities, and transform national security dynamics.

Characteristics:

Game-Changing Impact: Disruptive technologies can revolutionise warfare by introducing novel capabilities or approaches that significantly alter the balance of power on the battlefield.
Rapid Advancement: Emerging from rapid advancements in fields like artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, disruptive technologies lead to exponential improvements in military capabilities.
Cost-Efficiency: They may offer cost-effective solutions compared to traditional systems, enabling militaries to achieve greater effectiveness with reduced resources.

Disruptive Technologies:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): UAVs, or drones, have transformed military reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike capabilities. They provide real-time intelligence gathering, precision targeting, and operational flexibility, reshaping military strategies and tactics.
Cyber Warfare: Involving the use of computer networks to disrupt or sabotage enemy systems and infrastructure, cyber warfare poses significant threats to national security by targeting critical infrastructure, communication networks, and command-and-control systems.
Hypersonic Weapons: Travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, hypersonic weapons offer a rapid-strike capability against distant targets, making them extremely difficult to intercept. They can reduce response times and increase operational flexibility, potentially changing the dynamics of conventional warfare.

Impact on Military Operations:

Enhanced Situational Awareness: Disruptive technologies like advanced sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence enhance the military’s situational awareness. This enables commanders to make informed decisions in real-time and adapt to dynamic battlefield conditions more effectively.
Precision and Lethality: Disruptive technologies provide precision-guided munitions, autonomous systems, and enhanced targeting capabilities, resulting in greater accuracy and lethality in military operations. This helps minimise collateral damage and civilian casualties.
Asymmetric Warfare: Disruptive technologies empower smaller, technologically advanced forces to challenge conventional military powers through asymmetric warfare tactics. These tactics include cyberattacks, drone swarms, and electronic warfare, enabling them to disrupt larger adversaries’ operations and defences.

What is the Relevance of Atmanirbhar Bharat in Modernising the Defence Sector?

India stands out among a handful of nations for developing and manufacturing advanced military technologies, including fourth-plus generation fighter aircraft, nuclear submarines, successful Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems, Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), and an indigenized Ballistic Missile Defence System.
Indirect Contribution to International Players: Of the remaining 50% allocated to Indian vendors, a substantial 60% indirectly benefits international players due to the integration of imported components into the weapon systems.
Evolution of Defence Procurement: The evolution of India’s defence procurement journey has progressed from striving for self-sufficiency to achieving self-reliance, embracing co-production, encouraging private sector participation, promoting Make in India initiatives, and ultimately aiming for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) – 2020: The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 mandates 50% indigenous content (IC) in procurement contracts. It introduces a new procurement category, Buy (Global-Manufacture in India), to encourage foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to establish maintenance and manufacturing facilities in India, enabling ab initio indigenization of spare parts.
Positive Indigenisation Lists: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued “Positive Indigenisation Lists” specifying items that must be procured solely from domestic sources. Presently, nearly 5,000 items imported by the Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs) and the three Services are included in these lists.
Make-In-India in Defence Sector: Aligned with the national vision of Make in India and to address military capability gaps, the source of Capital Acquisition in the Defence Sector is broadly categorised as either ‘Indian’ or ‘Not-Indian’. This aims to promote indigenous manufacturing and reduce dependency on imports.
Indian: For a product to classify as Indian and fulfil the ‘Make in India’ vision, the vendor and his weapon system should provide either or all of the following:-
Production Line set up in India.
Technology is owned by an Indian firm.
Jobs are created for Indians.
Taxes are paid to the Indian Govt.
Supply chain management is set up in India.
Comes to the market as an ‘Indian Brand’.
Priority of procurement from the ‘Indian’ classification could be:-
Priority – I: Designed, Developed and Manufactured in India; or
Priority – II: Developed and Manufactured in India; or
Priority – III: Acquired and Manufactured in India; or
Priority – IV: Partnered with a foreign vendor but Manufactured in India.
All the above, under the category ‘India’, will satisfy the National vision of ‘Make in India’ and should be analysed and certified by the Department of Defence Production.
Not-Indian: Equipment that does not align with the national vision of ‘Make in India’ should be classified as ‘Not-Indian’ when neither the technology is transferred to India nor is a manufacturing line established in India. This includes:
Temporary Manufacturing Line: Equipment produced on a temporary manufacturing line in India to fulfil a specific capability requirement.
Outright Import: Equipment imported directly from a foreign vendor without any technology transfer or local manufacturing setup.

Different Technology Absorption Routes in the Defence Sector:

Co-development and Co-production: This approach involves joint development programs where partnering companies or countries collaborate to access state-of-the-art technology that would otherwise be challenging to develop individually. It reduces costs and time significantly.
Subcontracting / Contract Manufacturing: Foreign vendors procure defence-related components, subsystems, or products from industries in countries where they have offset obligations. This facilitates technology transfer through subcontracting or contract manufacturing arrangements.
Joint Ventures: Establishing Joint Ventures (JVs) allows for technology inflows. However, the success of JVs depends on investment levels. In JVs with foreign equity restricted to 26%, OEMs may limit cutting-edge technology transfer to protect their Intellectual Property.
Licensed Production: Technology transfer (ToT) to local defence industries capable of absorbing it enables further development. When both the supplier and the recipient are competent organisations, it leads to technological advancements.
Maintenance ToT and Training: Long-term customer support activities, including training local industrial partners and user agencies in system maintenance, are essential. Technology transfer ensures effective maintenance support. Establishing Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities through partnerships facilitates this objective.

Different Challenges in Absorption of Technology in the Defence Sector:

Low R&D Expenditure: India’s insufficient focus on defence R&D and low researcher density hinder breakthroughs in military technology, making it one of the largest importers of military equipment globally.
With only 0.8% of GDP allocated to R&D and 156 researchers per million population, India lags behind countries like the USA, China, and Israel in research investment and density.
Licensing Issues: Challenges arise when foreign governments control technology approval, leading to difficulty in obtaining cutting-edge technology due to patents, intellectual property rights (IPRs), or export control restrictions.
Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: The increasing reliance on digital technologies in defence exposes vulnerabilities to cyber threats. Inadequate cybersecurity frameworks and response mechanisms heighten risks.
Technological Obsolescence: Long service lives of military equipment lead to outdated systems amidst rapid technological advancements, delaying modernization efforts. Limited technology transfer from foreign collaborations and weak industry-academia connections hamper indigenous defence technology development.
Technology Not Sole Determinant of War: While technological advancements are significant, recent conflicts demonstrate that war outcomes are influenced by various factors beyond technology alone, highlighting the importance of strategic planning and operational capabilities.

Different Suggestions to be Incorporated to Ensure Smooth Technology Absorption:

Technological, Operational, and Tactical Adaptations:

In warfare, technical countermeasures quickly neutralise new technology-enabled weapons, highlighting the importance of operational and tactical adaptations.
These adaptations focus on how militaries employ tools and strategies on the battlefield, necessitating changes in tactics to enhance survivability, especially for platforms like tanks which are increasingly vulnerable due to advanced sensor technologies.

Technological Progress, Together with Conventional Methods:

Instead of solely relying on digital solutions, future military planning should integrate technology while acknowledging vulnerabilities and bridging gaps between conventional and digital capabilities.
Successful military strategies, exemplified by Russia’s effectiveness in Ukraine, blend traditional methodologies with technological advancements, emphasising the importance of consolidating defence lines and enhancing military-industrial capabilities.

Understanding the Potential of Latest Technologies:

A comprehensive understanding of the latest technologies and their applicability in diverse contexts is crucial.
Technology absorption must extend beyond higher echelons of command to unit levels, fostering democratisation in technology utilisation and enabling true transformation in military operations.

Technology Absorption Necessarily Including Multiple Aspects:

Effective technology absorption encompasses organisational restructuring, human resource management, decentralisation of specialist roles, civil-military fusion, data integrity assurance, and adaptive procurement policies tailored to disruptive technologies.

Harnessing Potential of iDEX and DISC:

Pragmatic initiatives like iDEX and DISC leverage India’s startup ecosystem to strengthen innovation in defence.
These programs mobilise startup capabilities to develop defence products and tap into domestic talent, fostering collaboration between the government and the private sector to enhance defence capabilities.

Conclusion:

Hence, effective technology absorption in the defence sector demands a holistic strategy, encompassing organisational restructuring, human resource management, decentralisation of expertise, civil-military fusion, data integrity assurance, and adaptive procurement policies. Addressing these macro-level factors facilitates seamless integration of new technologies, bolstering defence capabilities and preparedness amidst dynamic security challenges.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q.1 Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

The inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Q.2 Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently? (2016)

Amphibious warfare ship
Nuclear-powered submarine
Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Ans: (c)

Source: (TH)

FAQs on Technological Penetration in the Indian Army

1. Why is technological penetration important for the Indian Army?

The Indian Army faces a complex security landscape with diverse threats. Technological advancements in areas like communication, surveillance, and weaponry are crucial for:

Maintaining a technological edge over potential adversaries.
Enhancing battlefield awareness and decision-making.
Improving the accuracy and effectiveness of military operations.
Boosting soldier safety and communication.

2. What are some key areas of technological focus for the Indian Army?

The Indian Army is actively integrating various technologies, including:

Communication and Networking: Secure and robust communication systems for real-time information sharing between troops and commanders.
Artillery Modernization: Precision-guided munitions and long-range artillery for increased firepower and accuracy.
Drone Technology: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes.
Cybersecurity: Defending critical infrastructure and communication networks from cyberattacks.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Exploring AI for data analysis, logistics management, and potentially even autonomous weapon systems.

3. What are the challenges faced in integrating new technologies?

Integrating new technologies comes with its own set of challenges:

Budgetary Constraints: Modern military equipment can be expensive, requiring careful allocation of resources.
Infrastructure Development: Upgrading infrastructure like secure communication networks across remote border areas is necessary.
Training and Manpower: Training soldiers and officers to effectively use complex technologies takes time and effort.
Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: New technologies introduce new vulnerabilities that need to be addressed with robust cybersecurity measures.

4. How is the Indian Army addressing these challenges?

The Indian Army is taking several steps to overcome these challenges:

Increased Defense Spending: The government is gradually increasing the defense budget to facilitate technology acquisition.
Focus on Indigenous Development: Promoting domestic research and development to reduce dependence on foreign technology.
Improved Training Programs: Integrating technology training into military curriculum to prepare soldiers for the modern battlefield.
Collaboration with Private Sector: Partnering with private companies to leverage expertise and accelerate technological advancements.

5. What does the future hold for technological penetration in the Indian Army?

The Indian Army is likely to see continued integration of advanced technologies in the coming years. This will lead to a more agile, informed, and technologically proficient fighting force. However, ensuring responsible development, ethical use, and robust security measures will remain crucial considerations.

In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.

For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here

For Daily Updates and Study Material:

Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS

1. Learn through Videos – here
2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here

Technological Penetration in Indian Army – UPSC