Lieutenant General M V Suchindra Kumar, Northern Army Commander, outlined the Army’s plans to strengthen operational capabilities by collaborating with industries and implementing advanced technologies. He noted that the Army has identified 135 areas for technology and industrial partnerships, with 93 research and development projects currently underway.
Lt Gen Kumar explained the significance of Jammu and Kashmir’s diverse terrains — from the plains to high-altitude zones in eastern Ladakh — as ideal test grounds for equipment. “In Northern Command, we face multiple fronts and terrains — starting from the plains of Jammu, moving to hilly areas, and then to high-altitude and super high-altitude areas, such as eastern Ladakh. This region serves as a testing laboratory for equipment,” Lt Gen Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI.
In alignment with its vision for modernization, the Army has declared 2024 the “Year of Technology Absorption.” This includes efforts in drone technology, counter-drone systems, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, communications, and electronic warfare, among others. Around 12,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are involved in 438 projects with an investment of nearly ₹2 lakh crore across 500 industries.
The Army’s commitment to ensuring operational readiness also extends to personnel training. Lt Gen Kumar said that troops undergo inter-force training with police, BSF, CRPF, and Village Defence Groups (VDGs), with BSF personnel stationed along the Line of Control (LoC) receiving training on par with Army battalions.
Touching on Operation Sadbhavana, he highlighted the Army’s initiatives in education to foster “positive change among the youth in remote parts of Kashmir'”.
“We run 43 Army Goodwill schools with over 16,000 students, including 40% girls. Around 1.6 lakh students have graduated, and 321 college students benefit from boarding facilities,” he said, noting that 180 students trained by the Army cleared competitive exams like JEE, NEET, and UPSC.
Lt Gen Kumar stated that five joint command and control centres have been established to ensure cohesive ground-level operations. With rising violence, additional troops and Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed, along with new camps and fortified special operations groups.
The Lieutenant General said that such strategic initiatives aim to build both security and resilience in the region, underlining the Army’s commitment to tackling operational challenges through innovation and collaboration.
