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Indian Army Adopts New Integrated Mobile Camouflage Systems from Local Start-Up
Picture Credits: financialexpress.comThe Indian Army has made its initial purchase of Integrated Mobile Camouflage Systems (IMCS) for Mechanised Forces from an Indian startup, Hyper Stealth Technologies Private Limited, in order to decrease thermal and radar signatures. This procurement order represents the first acquisition of an Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) project by the Indian Army and is a significant milestone in the Army's mission to encourage innovation and technological advancement in the defence and aerospace industries. The contract was executed on March 14, 2023.
The Indian Army has placed an order for an Integrated Mobile Camouflage System (IMCS) designed and developed locally for its Mechanised Forces. The IMCS incorporates mobile camouflage system materials and low emissivity and/or CAM-IIR coatings, allowing armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) to blend seamlessly into their surroundings and dramatically increasing their stealth capability. This advanced technology is anticipated to significantly improve indigenous stealth technology, contributing to Aatmanirbharta in accordance with the Government of India's (GoI) vision.
According to reports, the IMCS successfully decreases the detection range of AFVs when observed through a tank-based thermal camera such as a Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI) or Battle Field Surveillance Radar (BFSR), depending on environmental and weather factors. This is achieved through effective signature management, which involves controlling the object's visual, thermal, infra-red, and radar signatures.
The Ministry of Defence has reported that the IMCS was the initial system to undergo trial evaluation under the ‘Single Stage Composite Trial’ methodology in accordance with the revised DAP 2020. A Request for Proposal (RfP) was issued to the developing agency last September, and the contract was signed within six months. The remaining Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for iDEX projects of the Indian Army are presently in the finalisation stage, and an agreement is projected to be concluded by the middle of next month.
By awarding the procurement order to Hyper Stealth Technologies Private Limited, the Indian Army has demonstrated its dedication to encouraging innovation and technological advancements in the defence and aerospace sectors, while also marking a substantial milestone for the start-up community. This decision is a constructive stride towards realising the government's objective of Aatmanirbharta and fostering the development of indigenous stealth technology.