Delhi-based start-up sets up 3 technology centres for defence equipment in Ladakh

A Delhi-based start-up said it has opened three technology centres in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region to service defence equipment in the areas that witness subzero temperatures.

Defence tech start-up Cron plans to take the number of such centres to eight by the end of the year, its CEO Tushar Chhabra said Wednesday.

However, the locations of these centres were not divulged citing security reasons.

"Leh records one of the lowest temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir. Rough winds, scarcity of oxygen coupled with harsh weather makes conditions make Leh not only difficult but also detaches it from the rest of the country," he said.

In case of equipment failure, the maintenance gets delayed, especially when the temperatures fall to sub-zero levels, thereby affecting the operations, he added.

"So, instead of the taking the equipment out of the state, it can be serviced in our nearby service centres. It will be a win-win situation for the forces as they will get the repairs done in a speedy manner," Chhabra said.

Jammu and Kashmir shares borders with Pakistan and China.

The company also launched Kavach Z, an advanced perimeter security system that provides a complete 360 degree situational awareness to the forces by detecting objects approaching the perimeter as far as 200 metres away, he said.

Chhabra added that Kavach Z has the ability to detect, track and classify objects as threats, providing the defending forces vital information to prepare, intercept and neutralise it.

He claimed that Kavach Z was undergoing trials at the Line of Control but declined to give details about the location.

The company has also launched the Cron GeoSight, an advanced scanner for surveillance and mapping.

Most of the terrains and places where the armed forces are deployed or where their vehicles navigate suffer from zero visibility and lack of mapping information, Chhabra said.

"Its robust design makes it capable of providing reliable results in even the most extreme environment conditions, relying on multiple beams that create an accurate 3D visualisation of the surrounding areas," he added.