Cargo drones to robotic mules: Last mile connectivity is focus before winter at LAC

Towards strengthening connectivity to border areas and strengthening the combat potential of soldiers deployed there, the Army is also working on procuring and deploying exoskeleton suits — to enhance the load carrying and other combat capabilities of troops — as well as on robotic mules which are still at an experimental stage even as its designing and simulation has been done.

However, the source said with the animal transport units still playing a key cog in transporting supplies to forward areas — particularly during rough weather conditions and in areas where there are infrastructural gaps — it is unlikely they will be replaced fully in the foreseeable future with modern technologies though there has been some rightsizing.

While there has been a set mechanism in place for adequate provisioning of troops deployed in high altitude areas during winters when several such areas are cut off due to harsh weather conditions, what has made it different in the last five years is the scale of supplies needed for the thousands of additional troops who have been deployed in eastern Ladakh since 2020.

“Last mile in any battlefield is very crucial. Due to our ability to construct roads and tracks to forward areas, animal transport can be replaced to some extent as we continue to build robust order infrastructure… However, in cases of cloudbursts and flash floods and other uncertain weather conditions, animal transport would continue playing an important role,” a source said.

On providing fresh and quality rations to troops deployed in high altitude conditions, Army sources said that while efforts are on to provide fresh milk, meat and vegetables to troops deployed in forward areas, given the major logistical challenges, tinned and dehydrated ration would continue to be the mainstay there.

Sources said the Army has tied up with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to explore its countrywide network in ensuring quality assurance of rations delivered to troops.

The sources said that Joint Logistics Nodes have been successful in providing integrated logistics to all services with optimal resource utilisation and new locations have already been identified to set up more such nodes to enhance jointness in logistics.

To support troops in their combat roles with military dogs, the Army has been breeding, training and deploying local breeds like Mudhol hound, Chippiparai, Rajapalayam and also trying out Rampur Hounds, alongside German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labradors.

“These dogs are trained as Assault Dogs, Guard Dogs, Tracker Dogs, Infantry Patrol Dogs, Explosive Detection Dogs, Mine Detection Dogs, Narcotics Detection Dogs, Avalanche Rescue Operations Dogs and Search and Rescue Operation Dogs,” a source said, adding that there is also significant technology absorption to augment military dogs’ efficacy during operations and training.

While modernisation of the Army is underway, optimisation of certain branches and corps is under the process, such as the Pioneer Corps and the Army Postal Corps. For instance, three units of the Pioneer Corps have already been reduced and the manpower under Army Postal Corps has been brought down to 3,200 from 7,500 in the last eight years.

“The infrastructure development work has to keep pace with the planned optimisation process,” the source said.

Source said the data and experience gained in increasingly adopting and operating green fuel by the Army would further help adopting latest fuel technologies in military trucks and combat vehicles across rugged terrain.