Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Sandeep Jain Reviews Indigenous Defence Technologies in Chennai

Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), visited Chennai to meet indigenous innovators, academic institutions and defence industry representatives working in aerospace, unmanned systems and other emerging military technologies.

What the Vice Chief Reviewed

The visit was aimed at studying homegrown technologies and how they could strengthen the Indian Army’s operational capabilities. Lt Gen Jain looked at developments in space technologies, autonomous systems, drones and next-generation logistics solutions that could improve effectiveness and efficiency on the battlefield.

In his interactions, he was briefed on solutions being developed by Indian researchers, startups and defence industry players. The discussions underlined how indigenous innovation is increasingly relevant to the changing operational needs of modern warfare.

Focus on Unmanned and Autonomous Systems

Unmanned and autonomous systems received particular attention, as they are becoming a core part of present-day military operations. Progress in drones, aerospace applications and intelligent logistics could improve surveillance, reconnaissance, battlefield mobility and logistical support for troops.

Push for Self-Reliance in Defence

The Vice Chief stressed the importance of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, calling for stronger indigenous technological capabilities and less dependence on foreign military systems. He said that absorbing new technology, innovating continuously and working more closely together, across the armed forces, industry and academic institutions, are essential to building a technologically advanced, future-ready Army.

Building a Collaborative Defence Ecosystem

The visit also pointed to the need for an ecosystem in which defence manufacturers, technology startups, research institutions and the armed forces develop practical solutions together for emerging security challenges.

As warfare increasingly involves artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms, space-based capabilities and advanced unmanned technologies, indigenous research and development is expected to be central to India’s military preparedness.

Lt Gen Jain’s visit to Chennai reflects the Army’s continued emphasis on technological modernisation, on encouraging domestic innovation and on strengthening industry-academia partnerships, in line with the goal of a self-reliant and future-ready force.