New Delhi: The Indian Army has launched two significant initiatives, ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ and ‘HIMTECH-2024,’ aimed at advancing military technologies for operations in high-altitude regions. HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2, designed as a platform for the Indian drone industry to showcase their high-altitude drone solutions, will be held at Wari La near Leh on September 17-18, 2024.
This will be followed by HIMTECH-2024 on September 20-21, 2024, an event intended to explore and demonstrate new technologies, ideas, and innovations focused on high-altitude military operations.
Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, emphasized that the Indian Army is deployed across challenging terrains, from the icy heights of the Siachen Glacier to the rugged Himalayas, where soldiers face extreme adversities. High-altitude conditions pose unique challenges for drone operations, such as reduced lift and degraded engine performance due to the rarefied atmosphere, extreme cold temperatures, and high wind speeds. These factors necessitate customized, indigenous solutions that can perform effectively in such environments. Success in developing these technologies would not only bolster India’s defense capabilities but also position the country as a credible player in the global drone manufacturing market.
HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 will specifically focus on developing drone solutions for the Indian Army in high-altitude areas. The event will be conducted in real terrain and environmental conditions at altitudes of 4,000-5,000 meters. Open to all indigenous drone manufacturers, the event invites participants to demonstrate various types of drones, including surveillance drones, loitering munitions, logistics drones, swarm drones, and drones with specific capabilities such as electronic warfare, synthetic aperture radar, communication intelligence, and electronic intelligence. More than 25 drone manufacturing firms have registered for the event, competing to prove the suitability and capabilities of their systems in these extreme conditions.
HIMTECH-2024, to be held for the first time in Leh, will focus on developing technologies and systems to meet operational requirements along the Northern Borders. Organized in collaboration with FICCI, the event will not only highlight industry partners and next-generation equipment developed for high-altitude areas but also promote Leh as a business hub for technology developers, industry, and academia. It will provide a platform for Indian industries to showcase a wide range of equipment and technologies, including modern unmanned systems, all-terrain mobility solutions, autonomous systems, and advanced soldier systems.
The technologies demonstrated by the indigenous drone industry during these events can also be adapted for civilian applications, particularly in high-altitude areas or regions with similar terrain and atmospheric conditions, such as the Union Territory of Ladakh.
