India's Special Forces represent some of the most technically demanding end-users in the entire defence acquisition ecosystem. Operating across high-altitude terrain, maritime environments, and urban battlespaces, special operators require equipment that is lighter, smarter, and more reliable than anything fielded by conventional forces. The Bharat Defence Tech Show has consistently prioritised this domain, with Maj Gen Ashok K Dhingra — the architect of India's Tri-Services Special Forces Division — serving on the BDTS Advisory Board.
Maj Gen Dhingra's career encapsulates the evolution of Indian special operations. From commanding the Parachute Brigade to his tenure as Defence and Military Attaché to the United States, where he brokered key technology transfer discussions, his perspective on the intersection of doctrine and technology is uniquely informed. At BDTS, he has articulated a clear vision: India's Special Forces must be equipped with indigenous solutions that can be rapidly upgraded without dependency on foreign supply chains.
Key technology areas of interest for India's Special Forces highlighted at BDTS include man-portable electronic warfare systems, exoskeleton technology for high-altitude load-bearing, next-generation night-vision and thermal imaging devices, miniaturised UAVs for individual soldier reconnaissance, and encrypted personal communication devices that can withstand jamming in contested electromagnetic environments.
BDTS has facilitated direct connections between Special Forces procurement requirements and defence startups developing lightweight composite materials, miniaturised power systems, and AI-enabled decision support tools. Several startups showcased at BDTS have subsequently received development contracts from the Ministry of Defence under the ADITI scheme.
The summit's discussions on joint-service special operations have also contributed to policy discussions around the establishment of a dedicated Special Operations Command in India, a structural reform that would fundamentally reshape how special forces capabilities are resourced and employed.
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