The Indian Army participated in the National Additive Manufacturing Symposium 2026 in New Delhi today. The symposium brought together representatives from government, the armed forces, academia, and industry to discuss the growing role of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in strengthening India's manufacturing ecosystem and enhancing strategic capabilities. The Ministry of Defence stated that the symposium provided an important platform for the Indian Army to engage with national stakeholders and explore pathways for the accelerated adoption of additive manufacturing technologies. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaborative innovation between government, industry, and academia to develop a resilient and self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting future defense requirements. The delegation was led by Lieutenant General Gen Rajiv Kumar Sahni, Director General of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME).
The discussions focused on the concept of smart manufacturing in defense, emphasizing the integration of additive manufacturing with simulation-driven design and data-enabled decision tools to improve operational effectiveness and sustainment capability. Addressing the inaugural session, Mr. Sahni emphasized the significance of Combat Force Regeneration at the battlefield edge, underscoring the need for agile and responsive manufacturing capabilities to support rapid prototyping and upgrades through Additive Manufacturing technologies. He also emphasized that additive manufacturing has evolved from a rapid prototyping tool into a mature manufacturing capability capable of transforming logistics, sustainment, and equipment modernization in military environments. He added that ongoing initiatives within the Indian Army are to integrate polymer and metal additive manufacturing capabilities, develop digital design ecosystems, and strengthen collaboration with national institutions and industry partners to accelerate the adoption of this technology.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a process of building 3D objects layer-by-layer from digital design data (CAD), allowing for complex geometries, reduced material waste, and rapid prototyping.