Zen Technologies Unveils Game-Changing Air Defence Simulator

Zen Technologies, the country’s leading defence training solution provider, has introduced a cutting-edge solution that aims to redefine training for air defence warriors. In response to the long-standing challenge of providing realistic training for crews operating the L-70 and ZU-23 towed air defence guns, Zen Technologies has unveiled its Integrated Air Defence Combat Simulator (IADCS). The company claimed that this advancement has the potential to enhance combat preparedness significantly.

The Challenge of Realistic Training

According to the developers of this solution, Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems rely heavily on the L-70 and ZU-23 guns, which are deployed in vast numbers to counter aerial threats. However, training air defence gunners on these weapons presents serious challenges. Conventional unit-level drills offer only basic familiarity, often relying on mock targets like model aircraft. These exercises fail to provide the actual “feel of fire”—the recoil, vibration, and stress of real combat scenarios.

Live firing is the only way to ensure combat-ready skills, but several factors constrain it:

• There is a need for Field Firing Ranges (FFRs) such as Mahajan or Pokharan.
• The skyrocketing costs and limited availability of live ammunition.
• The logistical complexity of transporting guns, support equipment, and personnel across vast distances.
• The frequency of live-firing drills is often limited to one or two sessions per year, and caters for only a handful of live rounds for practice of individual gunners.

Zen Technologies’ Game-Changing Innovation

At Aero India 2025, Zen Technologies showcased a transformative solution—its IADCS for the L-70 and ZU-23 guns, an advanced training simulator that bridges the gap between theory and real-world combat.

Key highlights of the IADCS include:

• Realistic Replication: The simulator features highly accurate replicas of the L-70 and ZU-23 guns, making them nearly indistinguishable from the original weapons.
• Immersive Training Experience: The IADCS replicates essential combat functions—traverse, elevation, aiming through Nife Reflector Sights, recoil effects, shock, vibration, smoke, and muzzle flash—providing an authentic “feel of fire” without using live ammunition.
• Dynamic, High-Resolution Combat Scenarios: A high-definition dome projection system presents realistic 3D air threats, simulating diverse combat environments such as plains, deserts, urban landscapes, forests, mountains, and glaciated terrains. The system also accounts for varied weather conditions like rain, fog, and sandstorms, with a full 24×7 time cycle.
• Objective Performance Assessment: Moving beyond traditional subjective evaluations, the IADCS introduces the Combat Readiness Score (CRS), a digital metric assessing a trainee’s performance based on scientifically measured parameters.
• After Action Review (AAR): All training sessions are recorded for post-exercise analysis, helping commanders identify skill gaps, track progress, and make informed training decisions.

Implications for Air Defence Readiness

The Integrated Air Defence Combat System (IADCS) revolutionizes air defence training through its immersive and scientifically validated methodology. By significantly reducing the dependence on live-fire exercises, trainees can acquire extensive simulated experience prior to real-world deployments. This system not only enhances combat readiness—granting gunners the opportunity to participate in thousands of simulated engagements before live firing—but also lowers training costs by minimizing ammunition use and logistical challenges. Furthermore, the IADCS is highly scalable and adaptable, paving the way for potential customization to accommodate future air defence gun systems.

A Global Opportunity

Beyond its application for Indian forces, the IADCS has the potential to revolutionize air defence training worldwide. With militaries across the globe facing similar challenges in training effectiveness and cost constraints, Zen Technologies’ innovation could become an essential tool for modernizing air defence preparedness internationally.

As Aero India 2025 concluded, it was clear—Zen Technologies has not only addressed a critical training gap but has also set a new benchmark for air defence simulation. This breakthrough promises to make the skies safer by ensuring that air defence warriors are always battle-ready, without the constraints of traditional training methods.

Ravi Shankar