New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched the third edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 3.0) challenge and the 13th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 13) at the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi Tuesday, a PIB press release stated. These initiatives aim to bolster indigenous defense technologies and operational efficiency within the Indian Armed Forces.
The Indian Navy’s ADITI 3.0 challenge seeks designs for a High-Power Microwave Weapon System. The DISC 13 features seven challenges from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, spanning Artificial Intelligence, military communication, and autonomous bots.
During the event, Singh also felicitated winners of iDEX and Hackathon awards. He highlighted the success of the ‘Swavlamban’ initiative, stating that the Indian Navy received over 2,000 proposals from Indian industries under the SPRINT challenges since its launch in July 2022. These proposals have been translated into 155 challenges, leading to 171 contracts. Furthermore, ‘Swavlamban’ has fostered collaboration with 213 MSMEs and start-ups under iDEX, resulting in Acceptance of Necessity of over Rs 2,000 crore in 19 cases, with contracts worth Rs 784 crore already completed.
He urged innovators and start-ups to develop products that could become future necessities for the Armed Forces, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting innovation. He cited the success of digital transactions and the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile Trinity in driving transparency and efficiency in government schemes.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi reiterated the Indian Navy’s dedication to becoming a ‘Fully Aatmanirbhar Force’ by 2047. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and NIIO in achieving this goal. Additionally, the event saw the flag-off of ‘Sagarmala Parikrama,’ an autonomous passage of about 1,500 kms from Mumbai to Tuticorin.