In a significant effort to foster indigenous defense innovation, the Indian Army’s Spear Corps has embarked on a forward area tour in Arunachal Pradesh. This initiative brings together key players from the defense sector, including representatives from the defense industry, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and academia. The aim of the tour is to offer these stakeholders a first-hand understanding of the operational challenges faced by troops stationed in India’s strategic northeastern frontier, touching on critical issues such as logistics, communication, and battlefield awareness.
This initiative forms part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat program, underscoring the central government’s commitment to decreasing dependency on foreign defense imports. Recent reports reveal that a remarkable 68% of India’s defense capital procurement in the fiscal year 2022-2023 was awarded to domestic firms. The resurgence of defense manufacturing following the pandemic has also played a vital role, creating approximately 80,000 jobs in the private sector.
Throughout the tour, participants had the opportunity to witness demonstrations of cutting-edge drones, advanced surveillance systems, and modern weaponry. These presentations highlighted the Indian Army’s dedication to incorporating next-generation equipment (NGEs) and weapons (NGWs) into frontline operations. This initiative builds on the success of a field exercise conducted by the Spear Corps in April 2025, which confirmed significant advancements in India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as enhancements in mobile logistics support and tactical communication systems tailored for high-altitude conditions.
The partnership between the Army, industry leaders, and academic institutions represents a noteworthy progression toward establishing a self-reliant and technologically sophisticated defense ecosystem. This collaborative approach is expected to lead to the creation of defense innovation hubs and foster technology transfers from international partners to Indian enterprises. Such developments are crucial for bolstering India’s security, particularly in geopolitically sensitive areas such as Arunachal Pradesh.
