On March 30, 2025, In a powerful display of military prowess, the Indian Army’s SpearCorps successfully conducted Exercise Spear Thrust, a high-intensity training operation aimed at enhancing operational preparedness through the seamless integration of sensors, multi-calibre artillery, and drone technology. The exercise, which took place in a simulated combat environment, underscored the Army’s commitment to modernizing its warfare capabilities and ensuring precision strikes in dynamic battlefield scenarios.
The SpearCorps, a key formation under the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, shared glimpses of the exercise on X, highlighting the troops’ ability to orchestrate firepower with precision and synergy. The operation involved synchronizing sensors and shooters over a common operational picture, resulting in what the Corps described as “an unrelenting symphony of precision strikes.”
These visuals not only showcased the Corps’ operational readiness but also highlighted the integration of cutting-edge technology in modern military exercises.
Exercise Spear Thrust comes at a time when the Indian Army is actively pursuing its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP), a procurement and development initiative drafted in 1999 and further amplified by the Artillery Profile 2027. The FARP aims to modernize the Army’s artillery by inducting approximately 3,000–3,600 new weapon systems, predominantly 155 mm caliber guns, at an estimated cost of over ₹20,000 crore (approximately US$3 billion). This includes towed, mounted, self-propelled wheeled, and tracked artillery systems, as well as ultra-light howitzers. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, is a key component of this modernization drive.
The exercise also aligns with the Army’s broader push towards integrating advanced technologies like drones and battlefield surveillance systems. According to recent reports, the Indian Army is acquiring long-range, high-endurance drones. These UAVs, as seen in the exercise, are designed to provide real-time intelligence, minimize risks to soldiers, and enable rapid responses to emerging threats. Additionally, the Army is set to induct an advanced indigenous battlefield surveillance system (BSS) under Project Sanjay, developed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), to further enhance its sensor-to-shooter grid.
