Indian Army intensifies tech-driven transformation – Official

The Indian Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), Lt.-Gen. Pushpendra Singh, says the Indian Army is undergoing a rapid, technology-driven transformation to meet evolving security challenges and deter emerging threats.

Singh spoke during an interactive session with foreign defence journalists, where he outlined the army’s operational posture, modernisation drive and future priorities.

The VCOAS said the Indian army was focused on building a technologically empowered, network-enabled and agile force capable of operating across multiple domains.

According to him, modernisation, indigenisation and integration remain the central pillars of the ongoing transformation.

”The character of warfare is changing rapidly. Our challenge is to transform and deter adversaries faster than threats can materialise.”

He noted that the Indian Army, one of the world’s largest professional land forces, continued to safeguard the country’s sovereignty across diverse terrains ranging from high-altitude mountains to deserts and dense jungles.

He said the Army also played critical roles in counter-terrorism, border management, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations both within and outside India under United Nations mandates.

Highlighting the nation’s security environment, the VCOAS described the western front as a primary area of concern, particularly along the Line of Control, where infiltration attempts involving drones, weapons and narcotics persisted.

He added that the long northern border with China also required sustained vigilance due to its un-demarcated stretches and occasional tensions.

On internal security, Singh said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had improved significantly compared to the peak of violence in the early 2000s, though sporadic high-impact attacks remained a concern.

“The challenge today is not the volume of incidents but the potential for sensational attacks using emerging technologies,” he said.

The Army chief highlighted ongoing force restructuring, including the establishment of new organisations such as a dedicated drone regiment to enhance battlefield awareness and precision strike capability.

He said 2026 had been designated as the “Year of Networking and Data Centricity” as part of a decade-long transformation roadmap running up to 2032.

On humanitarian operations, Singh disclosed that Indian Army columns responded to 77 disaster situations in 2025, providing relief to about 45,000 people across affected areas.

He added that the country remained one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, with more than 5,000 personnel currently deployed globally.

He emphasised that military diplomacy remained a key pillar of India’s engagement strategy, noting that the country maintained defence cooperation with over 118 nations through exercises, training and exchanges.

He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to providing a safe and secured environment to support India’s national development objectives.

The interaction formed part of a familiarisation programme organised for international defence journalists, who had earlier visited key Indian military formations and facilities across the country.