The Indian Army is set to host the Army Day Parade 2025 in Maharashtra’s Pune for the first time on 15 January, showcasing its advancements in military technology. The final rehearsal for the event was held on Saturday at the Bombay Engineering Group and Centre and featured the Indian Army’s robotic mules, also known as Quadrupedal Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGVs).
Videos of the rehearsals, highlighting the Army’s cutting-edge technology, have gained significant attention on social media.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Southern Command Investiture Ceremony and Final Rehearsal of Army Day Parade 2025 underway in Pune pic.twitter.com/luPedDAxr5
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025
The robotic mules, inducted into the Army in June 2024, are designed for operational use in forward areas. Capable of climbing stairs, navigating steep slopes, and functioning in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°C to +55°C, each unit can carry a payload of 15 kilograms and is remotely operated.
New Kids on the Block.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳🫡 pic.twitter.com/PyNlzNmpDp
— Brigadier Hardeep Singh Sohi,Shaurya Chakra (R) (@Hardisohi) January 9, 2025
According to The Indian Express, the Army recently acquired 100 units of the ARCV-MULE system. These robotic mules are tele-operable and autonomous vehicles designed for various applications, including perimeter security, asset protection, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) operations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tasks.
Comprising five main components—compute box, battery, front sensor head, rear sensor head, and legs—the robotic mule is equipped with advanced capabilities. These include obstacle and avoidance sensing with cameras, navigation in confined spaces, stair climbing, platform self-righting, and continuous operation for at least two hours. The mule can also relay real-time video and two-way audio, operate autonomously or on pre-programmed patrol routes, and function under adverse weather conditions and on variable terrain.
Army Day Parade 2025 In Pune
This year’s parade, commemorating Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa’s appointment as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army in 1949, also marks the third consecutive year of its rotation to different cities. After Bengaluru in 2023 and Lucknow in 2024, Pune’s selection underscores its historic ties to the Armed Forces and its role as the headquarters of the Army’s Southern Command.
The event will feature mechanised columns, marching contingents, demonstrations of cutting-edge defence technologies such as drones and robotics, and cultural performances, including combat demonstrations and martial arts displays.
In a statement last year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting remarked, “The Indian Army fosters a stronger connection with citizens nationwide by rotating the Army Day Parade across different cities. This initiative decentralises the celebration, providing local communities with opportunities to directly engage with the Armed Forces.”
