Indian Army Successfully Concludes Exercise Swavlamban Shakti, Showcasing Indigenous Technologies
The Indian Army has concluded its three-day integrated fire and manoeuvre training exercise, Exercise Swavlamban Shakti, at the Babina Field Firing Ranges. The exercise, which began on October 17, 2024, demonstrated the Army’s integration of indigenous technologies, aligning with the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Over 1,800 personnel, 210 armoured vehicles, 50 specialist vehicles, and multiple air and aviation assets participated in the exercise. More than 40 industry partners, including DRDO, Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge, and emerging defence startups, provided over 50 cutting-edge technologies for testing under battlefield conditions.
The technologies tested included swarm and kamikaze drones, logistic swarm drones, handheld drone jammers, software-defined radio-based mobile network systems, robotic mules, all-terrain vehicles, laser-based communication systems, directed energy weapons, and long-endurance UAVs.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, attended the exercise’s culmination and appreciated the Indian Army’s focus on indigenous technological solutions. “Exercise Swavlamban Shakti underscores our commitment to self-reliance,” he remarked. “The Indian industry’s innovations are transforming our capabilities, and we will continue to integrate advanced technology into our operations.”
The exercise also featured the Southern Star Drone Mela, held on October 21-22, which provided a platform for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and defence innovators to showcase the latest in drone and anti-drone technologies. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth highlighted the importance of innovation and adaptation in emerging technologies.
Exercise Swavlamban Shakti has paved the way for revolutionising the way the Indian Army approaches complex modern battle scenarios. This collaboration, coupled with the drive for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, is positioning India as a leader in defence technology innovation. The Indian Army’s commitment to self-reliance and indigenous technologies will continue to shape its future combat strategies.
