- On the Frontlines of Innovation: Tech-Powered Infantry
- Integrated Battlefield, Digitised Soldier & Stronger Borders
By Ashish Kansal
Bangalore. 06 June 2025. The moment you talk about war, what do you think of? Battle tanks, jet fighters, missiles, satellite surveillance, precision guns, drones and more, right? We all associate war with technology and gadgets now. However, looking just a few decades to a century back, unfolds a completely different scenario – battles restricted to land and dominated by on-foot soldiers. Designated as infantry soldiers, they moved around difficult terrains in formations like battalions, regiments, brigades, etc. and fighting to the best of their human abilities, which are limited. An infantry soldier’s ‘military kit’ was limited to weapons and armour, different gears (terrain, weather, camping, etc.), repair tools, health and hygiene items and rations to survive the duration of the mission. One of the most valuable pieces of gear was also the entrenching tool—basically a folding spade—which can be employed not only to dig important defences, but also in a variety of other daily tasks, and even sometimes as a weapon.
As the technology improved, these foot soldiers were supported and complimented with infantry combat vehicles (ICV) and armoured personal carriers (APVs). The light infantry was ably supported with heavy infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry, mechanized infantry, helping the soldiers to be quick in movement and reach to neutralise the enemy. An honorary mention goes to the soldiers managing long range guns and weapon locating radars stationed at strategic locations to support the foot soldiers.
Towards the end of 1980s, major modernisation of the infantry units began. The soldiers became intelligent sources of information who could move close to the enemy areas with cameras and communication equipment, providing strategic insights into the enemy positions (real time or near real time). They could now report to their base commanders and take instructions for the next course of action including attacking with their automatic close quarter battle weapons and explosives. Since infantry soldiers could carry communication radios and stay connected with other units and base, they became very important assets for armed formations on the battlefield. The first-hand information about the enemy provided by these soldiers helped other formations of tanks, guns, radars, and air force take suitable offensive or defensive steps.
The army envisaged a programme called F-INSAS – Futuristic INfantry Soldier As a System, aiming to make the infantry soldier more operationally capable in terms of lethality, situational awareness, mobility, survivability, and communication. This would allow the soldiers to intelligently execute missions in severely restrictive terrain, varying geographical conditions and areas where weather makes vehicular mobility difficult. The following equipment were proposed to be mounted on the soldiers’ body:
- Combat-friendly uniform with elbow and knee pads, boots and ballistic eyewear
- Bulletproof, fireproof, and waterproof lightweight-jackets
- Fireproof and lightweight helmet that can stop 9mm bullet even from point blank range
- Helmet visor equipped with thermal sensors, night vision device, digital compass, camera, audio headset and head-up display enabling 360◦ visibility and accuracy in operational conditions
- Multi-calibre weapon system
- Wrist bound smart computing device with inbuilt GPS, digital terrain map, and navigation system
- SDR based V/UHF communication set with MANET protocol mounted on back-pack
All of the above would improve Firepower, Protection, Communication and Surveillance ability of the soldier in a digitised battle ground.
While F-INSAS has not seen the light of the day in its entirety; the soldiers do have all the modern gadgetry on their bodies today. However, today’s battlefield, as observed during Operation Sindoor, is not focussed on ground combat. 1962 war was mainly fought on the ground by Infantry soldiers. By 1965, tanks provided combat muscle under different roles in the battlefield. By 1971 and thereafter, Air superiority has taken the centre stage while sufficiently equipped foot soldiers continue to play their part in guarding the borders. Your superiority and battle-readiness are defined by your fighter jets, missiles, drones, networked radars and air defence systems. Today’s warfare is an integrated warfare which involves active, real-time, and precise coordination between early warning and fire control radars, integrated command and control systems on the ground, in bunkers and / or ships, air defence systems controlling the missiles / drones and other warhead launching platforms on land, air, or sea.
That being said, let’s not forget confrontations like the Galwan Valley in 2020 and Indo-Chinese clash in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh in 2022 which were handled by our on-foot soldiers. Regular skirmishes are faced by our foot soldiers manning the border areas in the eastern and western sectors where first line of defence is the infantry soldier. A program like F-INSAS will keep the Indian army prepared to face any challenge posed by the enemy forces on the western and eastern fronts. Different organisations are carrying out Research and Development on the equipment to be mounted on the infantry soldier. Bharat Electronics had invested in various projects to develop very smart and ergonomical GPS enabled computing devices which are to be mounted on the soldier’s wrist/palm. Work is also being done on SDR based communication sets in different form factors- handheld, manpack etc. which can be adapted to suit the requirements of smart infantry soldier as per the specifications laid out by Indian Army. As of April 2024, Defence Materials, Stores Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur, a DRDO laboratory has claimed development of the lightest Bullet Proof Jacket with front HAP made up of a monolithic ceramic plate with polymer backing and can protect against 7.62 x 54 R API (Level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition, as per tests conducted at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh. These jackets could be manufactured by private Indian manufacturers like SMPP Ltd and AR Polymers etc. as per the selection process of MoD. Companies like MKU Limited, Indian Armour, Vega Aviation Products Pvt. Ltd., Anjani Technoplast Ltd., Aditya Techno Solutions etc. are in the field of manufacturing bullet proof helmets. The provision of bullet proof visor, eye glasses, camera and other equipment to be mounted on the helmet will be as per the specifications defined by the procurement agency / technical team of Indian Army and DRDO finalising the RFP. Any advanced technology / sub system/ kit that is required to be sourced from outside can be materialised by these companies through Technology Transfer arrangements so that Indian manufacturers are able to deliver the products to the forces at the time and place they need. Operation Sindoor has proven that supply chain links of all Indian companies in the service of the armed forces have to be made robust.
To conclude, modernisation of the infantry soldier must go on in sync with the modernisation of the Indian armed forces and at the pace desired by them to effectively implement OODA loop.
(Ashish Kansal is a seasoned strategic and communications expert with over 25 years of experience at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), where he played a key role in marketing, product support, and corporate communications. Currently, he serves as an Independent Director at Infonative Solutions, bringing his vast experience in technology-driven solutions and market expansion strategies. The views in the article are solely the author’s. He can be contacted at editor.adu@gmail.com).
