Imagine bunkers, tunnels and fortifications that can be printed out in the field by a vehicle. This sci-fi scenario is now sci-fi fact for the Indian Army, thanks to one of its innovators. 

The Army’s deployment at super high altitude since 2020 brought along many challenges. Among them, building fortifications at in the cold of high altitude in the face of the enemy. Cold weather and rarefied air adversely impact concrete setting. Cold temperatures slow the chemical reaction that hardens concrete, delaying setting time. Slow hydration leads to weaker concrete when poorly cured in the cold. 

One serving officer from the Corps of Engineers came up with a solution— a vehicle-portable 3D printed robotic arm that would quickly and efficiently print concrete bunkers and fortifications at high altitude. Lt Colonel Arun Krishnan’s innovation, Project Prabal, is an acronym for portable robotic arm for building bunkers and ancillaries. The project brings off-site 3D printing to on-site 3D printing through a portable robotic arm. 

The innovator’s solution combines existing technologies like additive manufacturing (which creates physical 3D objects from digital designs by adding material layer by layer, unlike traditional subtractive methods)

Lieutenant Colonel Krishnan is one of seven serving innovators profiled in ‘Anveshak’,  an exclusive bilingual video series on Chakra News. The series profiles innovators who have provided battlefield solutions for the field army, was launched on the Chakra News YouTube channel on January 15, 2026. 

Watch the full series:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9HLPdQnl6g&list=PLbTNGTpUDIOztTZcCBTrSpqnqncSltIbZ

“In the new Fluidic warfare where the drone threat or aerial weapon threat is increasing, there we need a type of force protection to protect our soldiers from the sudden surprise attack of the enemy, the ability to operate from tunnels and to store critical assets,” Lieutenant Colonel Arun Krishnan explains.

Earlier, the Indian Army used an offsite gantry printer for 3D printing. Sections were printed off-site and brought and installed on-site. Lt Col Krishnan’s solution is for a vehicle-portable 3D printer that deploys on site. 

“The aim of Project Prabal’s 3D printing is that our jawans on the site should be able to print it on the face of the enemy, as well as during peacetime,” Lt Colonel Krishnan says. 

The innovation stood on four pillars—  the development of a portable robotic arm, the development of a design mix using the local materials, the development of a terrain-specific printing strategy and lastly, form optimisation. 

Lieutenant Colonel Krishnan has these words of advice for innovators: “Have patience. Go for your innovation, and have patience. There will be failures. There will be challenges. There will be times when you will feel your innovation is not up to the mark. But have there have patience and go for it, and the sky is the limit.”

Watch the full episode:-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9HLPdQnl6g&t=3s

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.