By A Correspondent
New Delhi: In a significant push for India’s defence indigenisation drive, Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies Limited has won an INR 108-crore contract from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for advanced Tank Crew Gunnery Training Simulators.
The order, inclusive of GST, reinforces the government’s focus on simulation-led training and marks another milestone for the IDDM-compliant (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) company, Zen Technologies said in a statement on November 25, 2025.
Zen Technologies Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Atluri described the deal as more than a commercial success. “This INR 108-crore order represents more than business growth; it’s validation of indigenous R&D done right,” he said.
Atluri noted that Zen delivered its first tank simulator to the Indian Army over a decade ago, at a time when procurement processes offered limited support to single-vendor indigenous solutions.
“Today, this order proves what’s possible when policy protects genuine Indian IP,” he added, citing a TERI study that revealed massive cost savings.
According to the study, a 15% penetration of crew gunnery simulators could save the armed forces INR 1,123 crore annually, an 18:1 return on an investment of just INR 61 crore.
“These aren’t just training tools; they’re force multipliers. Operation Sindoor reminded us: procurement speed matters. The faster we deploy indigenous solutions, the stronger we become.”
Simulation Framework Driving Demand
The acquisition flows directly from the MoD’s Simulation Framework released in September 2021, which recognised simulation-based training as a cornerstone of military modernisation.
The tank gunnery simulator order is expected to be only the first step in a larger, long-term demand pipeline as the Army, Navy, and Air Force scale up simulator usage across platforms and mission sets.
Fully achieving the framework’s goals will require a significant expansion of deployments across all three services. Indigenous defence companies with proven IDDM capability — such as Zen Technologies — are poised to play a central role in delivering this modernisation at scale.
Why Simulators Matter in Modern Warfare
Globally, simulation-based training has evolved into a core pillar of military preparedness, enabling forces to rehearse complex operational scenarios safely, repeatedly, and cost-effectively.
With advances in Artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, and physics-based modelling, modern simulators replicate real-world threats, terrains, and adversary tactics with exceptional accuracy.
This helps trainees sharpen decision-making, build muscle memory, and train for high-stress battlefield conditions without the logistical and financial burden of live exercises.
Inside the Tank Crew Gunnery Simulator
Zen’s Crew Gunnery Simulator (CGS) is a high-fidelity replica of a tank’s turret compartment, complete with authentic sights, controls, instrumentation, and indicators. It allows commanders and gunners to practice:
- Gunnery drills in manual and stabilization modes
- Ammunition selection (APFSDS, HEAT, HE)
- Laser range-finding
- Manual range-setting
- Target acquisition and engagement of moving and static targets
- Lead calculation and firing of main guns and machine guns
The system can be installed in fixed facilities or deployed in containerized units for mobility. It comprises an instructor station, a realistic trainee cabin with out-the-window visuals, and a motion platform that mimics turret and vehicle dynamics such as slopes and recoil.
As India accelerates its shift toward simulation-led military training, the Zen Technologies contract stands as a strong indicator of the growing role indigenous firms will play in strengthening national defence capability.
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