DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
Leh, Sept 20
The Him Tech Symposium 2024, organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), was inaugurated today at Leh by Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command. The event aims to showcase cutting-edge defence technologies to address challenges faced by troops stationed in high-altitude areas. This year’s theme is “Harnessing Defence Technology for High Altitude Areas”, focusing on the technological advancements needed to enhance combat readiness in extreme conditions such as severe cold, low oxygen levels, and rugged terrains. High-altitude areas present significant challenges for military personnel. The cold, low oxygen, and low humidity make equipment maintenance and personnel survivability more difficult. Additionally, avalanches, landslides, and adverse weather conditions disrupt road and air movements, complicating logistics. The symposium is an effort to leverage indigenous technologies to improve the army’s efficiency and operational capabilities in these difficult terrains. The symposium provided a platform for over 90 vendors from across India to showcase products in areas such as autonomous systems, green energy, human sustainability, equipment sustenance, waste disposal, communication, sensing, and infrastructure development. These technologies are crucial for troops stationed in challenging environments like high-altitude areas. In his welcome address, Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, SC, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Fire and Fury Corps, highlighted the importance of innovation and self-reliance in defence technology, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Notable attendees included military and civil dignitaries, including Mr. SP Shukla, Chairman of FICCI. Senior military officers and defence industry leaders also participated in the event, exchanging ideas and solutions for high-altitude warfare.
During the event, the Him Tech 2024 compendium was unveiled, highlighting the latest advancements in defence technology. Expo stalls set up at the Rinchen Auditorium in Leh showcased a wide range of indigenous products, with military officials interacting with Indian defence manufacturers. The Indian Army also organized displays of innovations and ideas developed by its personnel to tackle day-to-day challenges in high-altitude areas, offering valuable insights to defence manufacturers.
The symposium provided a crucial platform for collaboration between the Indian defence forces, industry leaders, and technology innovators, all committed to addressing the unique challenges of high-altitude warfare. This event exemplified India’s push towards self-reliance in defence, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The symposium will be open to the public from 3 PM on 21 September 2024 onwards.
