Indian Army Turns to Robotics to Minimize Troops Casualty

Private defense firms have been asked to locally develop robotic platforms that would be inducted in the Rashtriya Rifles - a wing of the Indian Army which is deployed for anti-terror and anti-extremism operations across the country.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India is planning to introduce artificial intelligence in a big way in fighting terrorism and militancy. This is being done to reduce casualty among troops during operations. The defense ministry has set aside a sizable budget for the procurement of new age robotic surveillance and smart sensors.

“The way the situation is evolving, it may just be a matter of time, when security forces as a whole and Rashtriya Rifles, in particular, will be facing the threat in the built up and super built up areas. It is hereby proposed that a project for robotics platforms be taken up as a procurement project under ‘Make in India’ category. These robotic surveillance platforms can be extensively used by the Rashtriya Rifles operational in built up and super built up areas for the gathering of real time input prior to manual insertion,” a document of the Indian Army reads.

Initial order by the Indian Army comprises 544 robotic surveillance equipment consisting of the day- and night mode camera and inbuilt transmission system which should be capable of transmitting real time intelligence data from a radius of up to 200 meters to troops involved in close encounters.

“The platform must be capable of delivering suitable ammunition at the intended target, e.g stun grenade,” document added. 

The Army wants robotic platforms that can be hurled from a distance as it would be deployed at a short notice in harsh terrains.

According to South Asia Terrorism Portal, India has lost more than 124 security personnel this year alone due to rising encounters with terrorists in Kashmir and left-wing extremism-infested zones. In Kashmir alone, Indian Army killed more than 138 terrorists but also lost 46 security personnel.