Indian Army & FICCI Collaborate For Himtech 2024 & Him-Drone-A-Thon-2

EE News Desk Sep 06, 2024

The curtain raiser for these events was held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, where senior officers from the Indian Army and representatives from FICCI jointly unveiled the initiative

The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), will conduct two landmark events—Himtech 2024 and Him-Drone-A-Thon-2 in Leh, Ladakh. The curtain raiser for these events was held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, where senior officers from the Indian Army and representatives from FICCI jointly unveiled the initiative.

The event is in sync with the Indian Army’s vision for 2024 as the ‘Year of Technology Absorption’. During the curtain raiser, teasers for the Him-Drone-A-Thon-2 and Himtech 2024 were released, offering a glimpse of what promises to be a significant milestone in India's defence technology landscape.

Him-Drone-A-Thon-2 is set to take place from 17-18 September, 2024, at Wari La, Ladakh. This event will focus on showcasing and enhancing drone technologies tailored for high-altitude military operations. It will also provide industry stakeholders with insights into the Indian Army’s future drone requirements and the required capability upgrades on their respective products. Over 25 drone companies are confirmed to participate, with more expected, to present cutting-edge innovations designed for extreme environments.

Himtech 2024 will be held on 21-22 September, 2024, at Rinchen Auditorium Grounds in Leh, Ladakh. The event will spotlight advancements in indigenous defence technologies, particularly for high-altitude applications. Key focus areas include green energy, human sustainability, equipment durability, infrastructure, waste management, and communication technologies. More than 70 Indian companies have already confirmed their participation at the exposition, with additional confirmations estimated to showcase their products' resilience, innovation, and cost-efficiency to military and government officials.

During the curtain raiser, Maj Gen C.S. Mann, AVSM, VSM, ADB, Indian Army, underlined the significance of the event in enhancing the efficiency of the Indian Army through the adoption of cutting-edge indigenous products. Gen Mann emphasised that the induction of drones has been a significant focus for the Indian Army as part of its broader modernisation program to prepare for future operations, operational readiness, agility, and adaptability, especially in high-altitude operations in Ladakh. He expressed optimism that the industry would have an excellent opportunity to evaluate its products and capabilities. Gen Mann also stated that the Indian Army plans to assess the capabilities of the Indian industry during the demonstrations and trials following the event.

Maj Gen P.S. Bhatti, MGGS (SD&CD), Northern Command, introduced the theme of Himtech 2024 as ‘Harnessing Military Technology for High Altitude Areas’. Gen Bhatti highlighted the goal of promoting Leh, Ladakh, as a new business destination for modern technology developers, industries, and academic institutions during the exposition and drone-a-thon. He emphasised that the events would foster cooperation between the defence industry, users, and academia and reshape the process of product development for the stakeholders. Gen Bhatti also noted the extensive operational challenges faced by the Army and stressed the vast potential for cooperation and innovation in the defence industry, including micro, small, and medium enterprises, startups, and academia.

Ashish Kansal, Co-Chair, FICCI Defence & Homeland Security and Executive Director, SMPP stressed the importance of Himtech 2024 as a critical juncture for the Indian industry to innovate and collaborate with the armed forces. He urged all participating industry members at Himtech 2024 to take full advantage of the platform to showcase their best offerings to the Indian armed forces to foster a strong synergy between the Indian industry and the Indian Army. Kansal emphasised that FICCI, along with its industry members, is committed to contributing to the vision of Raksha Atmanirbharta on a much larger scale. He also highlighted the potential for these demonstrations to boost export opportunities for Indian products.