Chandigarh, March 3, 2025 – The Mech-Tech Seminar-cum-Exhibition kicked off today at Chandimandir Military Station, inaugurated by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. N.S. Raja Subramani. This two-day event serves as a strategic platform to discuss the future of mechanized warfare and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in the battlefield.
Focus on Future Warfare and Advanced Technologies
The seminar highlights the evolving threats and the changing nature of warfare, emphasizing the need for technological advancements in mechanized combat. Senior serving and veteran military officers, defense industry leaders, and academicians engaged in discussions on artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced armor protection, next-generation communication networks, and enhanced firepower solutions to ensure the Indian Army’s mechanized platforms remain future-ready.
Western Command Chief Emphasizes Indigenous Defense Capabilities
During the inauguration of the Mech-Tech Exhibition, Lt. Gen. Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, interacted with industry experts, academicians, and media representatives. He stressed the importance of aligning with India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) vision and the role of indigenous defense capabilities. He highlighted that in this decade of transformation, technology is a key enabler in building a future-ready Indian Army.
He emphasized that integrating new-generation weapons and advanced technologies into existing platforms presents significant opportunities. He also urged startups and educational institutions in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana to invest in research and development, leveraging the region’s strong industrial and human resource base.
Industry, Academia, and Military Collaboration
Senior military leaders, including the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), discussed emerging challenges in mechanized warfare based on contemporary conflicts and explored potential trajectories for the future of armored warfare.
Key defense industry players, research organizations, and startups showcased innovative solutions in combat vehicles, sensor-based warfare, and digital command-and-control systems. The event also featured:
Live demonstrations of emerging defense technologies
Panel discussions on military innovation
Interactive Q&A sessions to foster Army-technology developer collaboration
Massive Industry Participation
The exhibition attracted over 200 representatives from the defense sector, displaying 51 state-of-the-art defense products. Additionally, 54 representatives from premier academic institutions, including IIT Ropar, IIT Jammu, IIT Roorkee, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Mandi, participated, showcasing innovations from eight startup incubators.
On this occasion, a special compilation titled “Specialized Technologies in Mechanized Platforms Worldwide” was also released.
