General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, inaugurated ‘Agnishodh’ – the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), at IIT Madras, marking a significant step towards Atmanirbharta in defence technology.
In a landmark step towards Atmanirbharta in defence technology, the Indian Army has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to establish ‘Agnishodh’, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC) on the IIT Madras campus. The research facility was formally inaugurated by General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), during his two-day visit to Chennai.
The COAS also highlighted Project SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Vision) as a key tech initiative for secure communication.
Indian Army has advancing and directing defence orders to domestic manufactures as it aims to boost self-reliance in the sector. India currently manufactures 65% of defence equipment domestically. Now, in a move to increase ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence technology, the Indian Army has joined hands with IIT Madras.
In a landmark step towards Atmanirbharta in defence technology, the army will establish ‘Agnishodh’, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC) on the IIT Madras campus.
What is Indian Army Research Cell Agnishodh?
Part of Indian Army’s broader transformation framework, guided by the Five Pillars of Transformation articulated by the COAS, new IITM–Indian Army Research Centre Agnishodh would transform academic excellence into battlefield innovation.
Among the Five Pillars of Transformation, this new research facility specifically advances one of the pillars – Modernisation and Technology Infusion – while representing the Indian Army’s drive to seamlessly integrate academic research with real-time operational applications at the same time.
To strengthen self-reliance in defence sector, some of the government initiatives include the Defence Acquisition Procedure, liberalised FDI policy, development of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and simplification of the industrial licensing process.
Agnishodh is another step in that direction.
Agnishodh: What this new Indian Army Research Cell aims to do?
Indian Army’s and IIT Madras’ Agnishodh collaboration will further extend into the IIT Madras Research Park, working alongside entities such as the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development Centre (AMTDC) and Pravartak Technologies Foundation. This will serve as a unique platform to convert lab-scale innovations into field-ready technologies. This new facility gains significance in the respect that it would be crucial in upskilling military personnel in key emerging areas including additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, quantum computing, wireless communication, and unmanned aerial systems building a tech-empowered human resource base within the Armed Forces.
Indian Armed Forces are prepared for fifth-generation conflicts driven by non-contact warfare, strategic tempo, and psychological dominance, Gen Dwivedi said while addressing a gathering at IIT Madras. He also stressed on Indian Army’s commitment to self-reliance under “Swadeshikaran Se Sashaktikaran”.
Project SAMBHAV
- Launched under the Indian Army’s 2024 Year of Technology Absorption, SAMBHAV is a secure, 5G-based, network-agnostic mobile system.
- It enables instant and encrypted communication on the move, even in remote or high-risk operational areas.
- SAMBHAV is designed to boost battlefield communication, making it faster, more secure, and reliable.
Indian Army’s ‘Sambhav’ smart phone used during China border talks for secure communication
The Indian Army has distributed around 30,000 Sambhav smartphones to officers for secure communication. These phones, developed in-house, use end-to-end encryption and 5G technology, featuring applications like M-Sigma for messaging. This initiative aims to prevent sensitive information leaks, ensuring instant and secure connectivity.
The primary aim of the Sambhav project is to mitigate the risk of data leaks that have previously occurred when military personnel relied on commercial messaging applications. By providing a secure platform for communication, the Indian Army seeks to safeguard sensitive information and enhance operational efficiency within its ranks. This initiative also aligns with India’s broader goal of promoting indigenous technology and self-reliance in defence capabilities, contributing to the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaign.
The deployment of ‘Sambhav’ smartphones marks a significant advancement in the Indian Army’s communication strategy, particularly in sensitive diplomatic contexts such as border negotiations with China.
