Simulator-based training can save armed forces' annual expense by over Rs 1,000 cr: TERI

New Delhi: Indian armed forces can save over Rs 1,000 crore annually by scaling up simulator-based training, which can help cut fuel burns and logistics expenditure, said a study released by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) on Friday.

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TERI cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call to save fuel, postpone foreign trips and gold purchases to ease pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves, and said the country is entering an era where every litre of fuel, every imported resource, and every rupee spent matters.

Speaking at a rally in Hyderabad earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for collective austerity amid rising global oil prices and mounting import bills.

The study reveals that Indian armed forces are sitting on a transformational opportunity, TERI said in a statement.

"By scaling up simulator-based training, the military can save over Rs 1,000 crore annually, reducing fuel burn, cutting ammunition costs, slashing logistics expenditure, and freeing up thousands of man-hours across all combat arms, without compromising battlefield readiness," it stated.

TERI's study assessed 13 simulator systems, covering infantry, artillery, army, air defence, armoured corps, and mechanised infantry, and calculated savings across fuel, ammunition, logistics, and equipment wear.

Souvik Bhattacharjya, Senior Fellow & Director, TERI, said, "National security and environmental responsibility are no longer separate conversations. Defence simulators demonstrate how technological innovation can simultaneously strengthen combat preparedness, optimise resources, and advance sustainability goals."

At the current 15 percent simulator induction level, the Indian Army's Infantry Weapon Training Simulators alone save Rs 461.20 crore annually, equivalent to Rs 1.26 crore every single day.

If induction were scaled up by a further 25 percent, annual savings from IWTS (infantry weapon training system) would increase by Rs 3,219.50 crore.

TERI said that the cumulative annual savings of Rs 1,000 crore has been derived from assuming simulator penetration goes above 40 percent.

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It suggested integrating simulators into joint training exercises across all service branches, including Agniveers, to maximise per-unit training value.

It also suggested investments in AI-driven and virtual reality simulators to improve training realism while reducing the frequency of live-fire exercises.

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