Firefighting Goes Robotic: Indian Army Inducts Swadeshi Bots for High-Risk Depots

The Indian Army is set to change how it responds to fires at some of its most sensitive installations with the procurement of an indigenously developed firefighting robot, a move that shifts frontline

firefighting in high-risk zones from personnel to unmanned systems.On January 13, the Army’s Directorate of Capability Development signed an agreement to procure 18 Fire Fighting Robots (FF BOTs) at a cost of ₹62 crore. The systems are intended for use at armament and ammunition depots and other high-risk locations where fires often involve explosions, toxic smoke, and the risk of structural collapse.This development comes only a month after the company showcased the firefighting bot at the Vijay Diwas celebrations held at the Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi's house in December. Developed by Indian start-up Swadeshi Empresa Pvt Ltd under the Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, the FF BOT is an unmanned ground system designed to enter areas that are too dangerous for human firefighters. Instead of sending personnel into unstable structures or blast-prone zones, the Army will now be able to deploy robots as the first responders.Also Read: Why Winter Is No Longer A Shield For Terror In Jammu & Kashmir | EXCLUSIVE Although the system was originally developed for the Indian Navy under the iDEX framework, the Army is procuring it for the first time by using enabling provisions that allow one Service to acquire iDEX products developed and cleared by another. The FF BOT was approved following a Single Stage Composite Trial. The Army Design Bureau supported the project, reflecting the Army’s push to back indigenous defence technologies and start-ups under the Make in India programme.The contract includes a two-year warranty and five years of comprehensive maintenance, along with on-site service support for a total period of seven years. Induction of the robots is scheduled to begin in the first week of April. The Army will use it across multiple cantonments in the country.The shift is expected to significantly alter firefighting operations at high-risk areas, which include ammunition depots, fuel storage facilities, oil refineries, and industrial plants. Fires at such locations can escalate within minutes, leaving little to no margin for human error. With the FF BOT, firefighters can remain outside the danger zone and control the robot remotely--an approach that will help them with reducing exposure to heat, smoke and secondary explosions.The robot is equipped with optical and thermal cameras. Thermal imaging allows responders to detect hotspots and hidden flames through smoke, enabling faster assessment and more informed decision-making in low-visibility conditions. This real-time situational awareness is expected to improve response speed while limiting risk to personnel.The FF BOT has already demonstrated its utility beyond military settings. It was used during a major fire at the Visakhapatnam refinery, highlighting its applicability in civilian industrial emergencies. Officials said the system can also be deployed at power stations, airports, fuel storage sites, and during disaster response operations where access for human firefighters is restricted.The firefighting robot was the first iDEX SPRINT project under DISC-7 to receive Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in 2023. The iDEX initiative aims to build an innovation ecosystem in defence and aerospace by engaging start-ups and private industry.The FF BOT will change how firefighters operate in the most dangerous situations. By allowing unmanned systems to enter hazardous zones first, the Army will reduce casualties, limit damage, and maintain operational continuity at critical installations by marking a fundamental shift in how military firefighting operations are conducted.