Indian Army's Sapta Shakti Command Launches Landmark Tech Seminar in Jaipur

The Indian Army’s South Western Command, also known as the Sapta Shakti Command, inaugurated an important seminar titled “Next Generation Combat: Shaping Tomorrow’s Military Today” at the Jaipur Military Station. This event, organized in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), marks a significant effort to prepare the Indian military with advanced technologies for the future.

In his keynote address, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Manjinder Singh highlighted the critical role of science and innovation in achieving India’s long-term objective of becoming a developed nation under the Viksit Bharat vision. He pointed out the importance of artificial intelligence, ISR capabilities, precision-guided munitions, and drone warfare in transforming modern battlefields.

A significant moment during the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sapta Shakti Command and the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur. This agreement aims to foster joint research and development, with the objective of reducing India's dependency on defence imports and enhancing domestic innovation as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Experts have indicated that this collaboration could reduce India's import reliance by up to 50 percent by the year 2030. These estimates are based on a DRDO report that underscores the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and the military in defence research and development.

The seminar also featured demonstrations of advanced military equipment, including combat drones and ISR systems. These displays highlight insights from previous conflicts where reliance on foreign technologies led to strategic limitations. However, the successful use of indigenous systems during Operation Sindoor has since illustrated the advantages of domestically developed technologies.

The two-day seminar will continue with focused discussions on tactical transformation, AI integration, and emerging technologies. As global militaries increasingly adopt tech-driven warfare strategies, India is positioning itself to be at the forefront of future combat preparedness.