The Indian Army's Southern Command has launched a major military exercise, "Swavlamban Shakti," at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi.
The exercise, which began on Friday and will continue until October 22nd, focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies into the Army's offensive strategies to ensure combat readiness for future warfare scenarios.
Lieutenant General Prit Pal Singh, General Officer Commanding the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, is overseeing the exercise, which involves approximately 1,800 personnel, 210 armored vehicles, 50 specialist vehicles, and various aviation assets.
Over 50 new technology equipment from more than 40 Indian industry partners, including Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) labs and emerging defence startups, are being showcased and evaluated.
"Swavlamban Shakti" aims to identify and prioritize critical technologies for future development and procurement. The exercise is testing a wide range of advanced systems, including swarm drones, kamikaze drones, logistic swarm drones, handheld drone jammers, software-defined radio-based mobile ad-hoc network systems, robotic mules, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), light armored multipurpose vehicles (LAMVs), guided precision aerial delivery systems (GPADS), laser-based communication systems, directed energy weapons, and indigenously developed long-endurance UAVs.
This initiative aligns with the Indian government's "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision, which emphasizes self-reliance in defence. By fostering collaboration between the Indian Army and the domestic defence industry, "Swavlamban Shakti" seeks to drive innovation and self-reliance in the defence sector.
The exercise will culminate with the "Southern Star Drone Mela and Static Equipment Display" on October 22nd. This event will provide a platform for young entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to demonstrate their capabilities in drone and anti-drone technologies within a simulated modern battlefield environment. This mela aims to further boost indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities in these critical areas.
