Army Chief Inspects Indigenous Drone Projects at Bengaluru’s 515 Workshop

On a cool October evening, General Dhiraj Seth, the Chief of the Army Staff, stepped into the 515 Army Base Workshop in Bengaluru. The purpose? A quick look‑around of the army’s home‑grown drone programmes and a slew of cutting‑edge technologies that the Indian defence is nurturing.

The general, known for his no‑nonsense style, spent time with engineers working on additive‑manufacturing rigs, quantum‑research kits and even a few satellite‑communication prototypes. He nodded approvingly at the displays, mentioning that “every bit of indigenous effort helps push our equipment readiness forward.” A brief pause here and there gave him room to chat with the scientists – a small reminder that even top brass enjoys a good technical conversation.

In a short post on X, the Indian Army highlighted that General Seth appreciated the drive to boost equipment availability through locally‑crafted solutions. The message was clear: the army wants to rely less on imports and more on its own inventive capacity, especially when it comes to drones that can be produced at a fraction of the cost of foreign counterparts.

The visit comes at a time when the Indian armed forces are redefining their approach to modern warfare. Just weeks earlier, General Seth had spoken at a defence conclave in New Delhi, urging the country to move beyond mere self‑reliance in production. He called for the ability to “sustain, adapt and regenerate” capabilities if a conflict drags on, underscoring the rising importance of affordable, scalable tech.

He warned that inexpensive yet sophisticated gadgets – especially low‑cost drones – can threaten platforms that cost millions. “If we can innovate faster than our adversaries, that’s the edge we need,” he said, driving home the point that speed of adaptation matters as much as the hardware itself.

General Seth’s career spans nearly four decades, from his commissioning into the Armoured Corps in 1986 to his recent appointment as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff. An NDA alumnus, he has worn many hats, both on the battlefield and in strategic planning rooms.

Overall, the Bengaluru workshop tour highlighted the Indian Army’s push toward domestic tech – from drones that hover over hillsides to quantum experiments that may one day secure communications. It’s a small but significant step in a broader journey toward a truly self‑sufficient defence ecosystem.