INDIA —Zen Technologies, an indigenous defense technology firm operating under the IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, has been awarded a contract worth INR 1.2 billion by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The contract covers the establishment of India’s first Combat Training Node (CTN) at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
The CTN will integrate more than 60 simulators and associated systems, including weapon training modules, drone simulation platforms and live-range target solutions. The facility will deploy Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) architecture, enabling combined simulated and live-fire exercises to replicate complex battlefield environments.
The procurement aligns with the Simulation Framework introduced by the defence ministry in 2021, which identified simulation-led training as a strategic enabler for modernization and cost efficiency. By incorporating advanced after-action review tools and performance analytics, the CTN is expected to enhance mission preparedness across scenarios such as urban warfare, counter-insurgency, counter-terror operations and counter-drone response.
For the Indian Army and domestic defense industry, the initiative represents a shift toward technology-driven training ecosystems, supporting indigenization goals while reducing long-term operational training costs and improving force readiness cycles.
