The Army is looking for load-carrying drones for use in high-altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier and these were among the weapons and technologies on display for senior officers on Tuesday at the ongoing Army Commanders conference, defence sources said.
The biannual Army Commanders conference is held in April and October every year.
The major systems on display by about 40 Indian and few foreign vendors include counter-drone technologies, load-ferrying drones for high-altitude areas, Software Defined Radios, electro-optic systems, loiter munitions and comprehensive perimeter security solutions, high-altitude clothing and small arms from the Ordnance Factory Board.
“The Army is looking to see if load-carrying drones work in high-altitude areas. Load-carrying is a major challenge there. It will be a path-breaking solution,” a source said. Transporting rations and utilities to soldiers posted on the high-altitude areas and maintaining remote posts is a major challenge for the military.
Apart from capital procurement, Army commanders have special financial powers to procure weapons and equipment up to certain limit.
With the increasing threat of drones, both big and small, the top brass of the Army debated the issue and there is also considerable focus on counter-drone technologies.
The Army Design Bureau (ADB), set up a couple of years back to push for indigenous solutions in collaboration with the Indian industry, also made a presentation and displayed the indigenous projects being undertaken. Some of the earliest projects undertaken have started delivering results. “Of the various ADB projects, some equipment are being inducted and some indigenous solutions are being developed,” the source added.
