With an aim to bolster its capabilities along with a keen focus on ‘Aatmanirbharta’, the Indian Army on Wednesday unveiled two landmark events; ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ and ‘HIMTECH-2024’ designed to harness military technologies for operations in high altitude areas.
Envisaged as an opportunity to the Indian Drone Industry to showcase the capabilities of their drone solutions for high altitude areas, HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 will take place at Wari La, near Leh on 17-18 September 2024.
This will be followed by HIMTECH-2024 on 20-21 September 2024, an event conceptualised to discuss, demonstrate and discover new avenues for development, incorporation and cross pollination of technology, ideas and innovations with focus on harnessing military technologies for high attitude areas.
Notably, both of these mega events highlights the strong desire of the Indian Army to equip themselves with the latest technology along with a keen focus on ‘indigenousness’ as the deadlock between India and China at LAC continues since the deadly classes in Galwan back in 2020.
Speaking at the curtain raiser of the event at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, highlighted that the Indian Army is deployed from icy heights of the Siachen Glacier to the rugged Himalayas where its soldiers face unparalleled adversities daily. Talking about the tough conditions the armed personel have to face at mountainous peaks, Maj Gen Mann emphasised that “at such heights and due to strong winds, many a times drone usage results in reduced lift and degraded engine performance.” “These conditions are unique for Indian Army and demand systems that can adequately perform in these conditions.
Since such altitude battlefields are not prevalent anywhere else, tailormade, indigenous solutions are the way forward”, he said.
“If the indigenous industry succeeds here, it also opens vistas for them to international arena and establish India as a credible drone manufacturing hub”, he added.
HIM-DRONE-A-THON-2 is planned to be conducted under actual terrain and environmental conditions at altitude of 4000-5000 meters. The event is open to all indigenous drone manufactures and invites their participation for demonstration of Surveillance drones, Loitering munitions, Logistics Drones, Swarm Drones and drones with specific capabilities / role / payloads ie; Electronic Warfare, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Communication Intelligence and Electronic Intelligence.
As of now more than 25 Drone manufacturing firms have registered for participation in the event. All the firms will be competing in a multifaceted competition at super high-altitude area for proving their suitability and capabilities.
HIMTECH 2024 is being held for the first time in Leh, to highlight and focus on development of technology and system for meeting operational requirements along the Northern Borders and the event is being held in collaboration with FICCI.
On the use of Chinese technology and their spare parts in the Indian defence industry, Major General Bhatti said that there are concerns regarding the use of Chinese technology, especially in the domain of electronic warfare.
“We have seen it in the past how this Chinese technology can be a threat and we are evolving with time and taking bold steps in order to avoid the use of Chinese technology”, he added.