Army launches first technology node at Pune

To boost indigenous defence production and facilitate interaction with Industry, Indian Army's Southern Command formally launched the first Regional Technology Node (RTN) at Pune at an event held on 02 Nov 2021. It also included conduct of a Start-up forum by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.

The event was organized by Headquarters Southern Command in conjunction with the SIDM.

Held in hybrid mode, the event was live streamed and attended by heads and representatives of more than 100 industries, Start-ups and Army establishments from across the country. Delivering the Keynote Address, Lt Gen JS Nain, AVSM, SM, GOC-in-C Southern Command, emphasised upon the timely absorption of cutting edge technologies for military modernisation, achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the role of Indian industry in the same. He exhorted the industry to come forward with their proposals and become a partner in the process.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Jayant D Patil, President SIDM, Maj Gen Kirti Jauhar, VSM, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, S P Shukla, Vice President SIDM, Abhishek Jain, Chairman, SIDM Start-up Forum and Col Rajinder Singh Bhatia (Retd), President &CEO Defence, Bharat Forge Limited.

Keeping in step with Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and 'Make in India' push of Government, the Ministry of Defence and Army have taken large strides in indigenisation of defence equipment with the aim of reducing dependency on foreign suppliers and eventually emerge as an export hub for defence goods.

With Launch of RTN at Pune, the reach of Army Design Bureau has been extended to the Tech hubs of Southern region. This will encourage industries, MSMEs and Start-ups to come forward & propose solutions for the Army's modernisation requirements.