An L70 gun in a simulation.
New Delhi: In a notable achievement for India's private defence-technology sector, Zen Technologies has secured a substantial contract worth ₹152 crore from the defence ministry to supply an integrated air-defence combat simulator (IADCS) for the L70 gun system. The contract represents a significant breakthrough for the indigenous defence technology firm, which has developed the simulator entirely through its internal research and development efforts under the government’s Make II category.
This achievement underscores India's growing capabilities in developing sophisticated defence training technologies.
Arjun Dutt Atluri, vice-president of Zen Technologies, emphasized the strategic importance of the project. “This order validates our commitment to innovation and our capability to create world-class indigenous solutions for our defence forces,” he stated.
The IADCS is a cutting-edge virtual simulation system designed to provide comprehensive training for air defence operations. By creating hyper-realistic virtual environments that simulate real-world combat scenarios, the technology aims to enhance operator readiness and improve unit-level coordination while significantly reducing the costs and logistical complexities associated with traditional live training exercises.
Highlighting the simulator’s potential, Atluri noted, “We anticipate significant interest not only from the Indian armed forces but also from friendly foreign nations operating legacy air defence platforms like the L70 gun.”
The development comes as part of the broader national initiative to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign technologies. On this development, industry observers noted that by investing independently in research and development, Zen Technologies demonstrated the growing prowess of Indian tech firms in creating strategic technological solutions.
The company sees this contract as a critical step towards establishing itself as a global leader in virtual defence training systems. The IADCS is designed to be scalable and adaptable, promising long-term operational and economic benefits for defence establishments.
As India continues to prioritize technological self-reliance in its defence sector, contracts like these signal a promising trajectory for domestic innovation and strategic technological advancement.
