New Delhi, Oct 22: The Indian Infantry is undergoing a major transformation into a technology-driven, self-reliant, and agile combat force in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, said Director General Infantry Lt Gen Ajay Kumar during an informal interaction with the media on Wednesday. Emphasising self-reliance, he remarked, “Wars are not fought with borrowed weapons.”
Lt Gen Kumar reaffirmed that the Infantry remains the cutting edge of the Indian Army and said the force is evolving under the Decade of Transformation initiative, focusing on modernisation, innovation, and human resource excellence. “The Infantry of tomorrow will be technologically advanced, modular, and versatile — capable of fighting and winning in multi-domain environments,” he added.
The DG highlighted the upcoming Shaurya Diwas (formerly Infantry Day) on October 27, commemorating the 1947 air landing of 1 SIKH Regiment in Srinagar that safeguarded Jammu and Kashmir. “Shaurya Diwas embodies the valour and indomitable spirit of the Infantry, connecting historical legacy with modern military excellence,” he said.
Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Kumar underscored the growing importance of precision warfare, jointness, and technology integration. He said modern infantry battalions are now equipped with dedicated drone platoons for surveillance and FPV-based precision strikes, while newly raised Bhairav Battalions bridge the gap between Infantry and Special Forces for high-mobility, high-intensity operations.
The Infantry’s transformation, he said, rests on six key pillars — lethality, mobility, communication, battlefield transparency, survivability, and training — all powered by indigenous technologies. From 7.62 mm rifles and fifth-generation anti-tank systems to SDR-based encrypted communication and AI-enabled battlefield networks, India’s Infantry is embracing next-generation warfare.
Lt Gen Kumar stressed that the Atmanirbhar Bharat defence ecosystem — supported by industry, DRDO, and academia — ensures India’s armed forces are equipped to fight with indigenous strength and innovation.
