We want to fight next war with technology: General Bipin Rawat

Emphasizing the significance of technology, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday asked the industrialists and academicians to come up with robust yet technologically compatible solutions, adding that the Indian Army would fight its wars in varied terrain and weather conditions.

General Rawat was addressing a combined session of 'the user and the provider' attended by renowned industrialists, academicians as well as the decision making hierarchy of the Army.

"We want to fight next war with technology on our side and not like the past", he said.

During the session, General Rawat released the 'Compendium of Problem Statements Volume II', which has been prepared by Army Design Bureau (ADB) after detailed interaction with all stake holders including soldiers deployed in field.

The first volume, with 50 problem statements released on December 5 last year was received with tremendous amount of enthusiasm.

This time 28 new problem statements have been added to enable industry and academia to understand the 'Felt Needs' and come up with indigenous solutions incorporating the latest technology trends for India's military power.

Giving feedback on the first volume, industrialists and academicians expressed keenness to step up R&D for solutions to Army's problems and deeply appreciated Army's efforts calling the raising of ADB as a path breaking step.

General Rawat took the opportunity to challenge the industry and academia by asking them to align the solutions to the stated problems.

He sought efforts towards the most important need to bring in transparency of the battlefield to allow better decision making.

He further nudged them to come up with a 'Society for Defence Manufacture' as the next step.

Industry leaders and the academicians who seemed greatly 'fired up' committed to work towards ensuring that 'Indian Army Will Win India's Wars with Indian Solutions'.