Need niche technology, says Army as it seeks to beef up artillery firepower
New Delhi: Drawing lessons from the protracted Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian Army is seeking niche technology to beef up its artillery firepower while preparing itself for protracted war, a shift from the concept of short war that it was following.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that the ongoing war against Ukraine showed the effective use of niche technology, such as loiter munitions, swarm drones or counter drone systems.
They also identified Starlink communication system, a satellite internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX, as niche technology that has helped the Ukrainians in carrying out pinpointed targeting.
The sources said the role of fire power has been reaffirmed as a battle-bearing factor in the war. Nearly 80 percent of the casualties have been due to artillery fire, they said.
Terming firepower as a “battle-winning” factor, the sources said the manoeuvre forces