Leader in IETM Technology
How IETMs and CBTs Revolutionized Training and Operational Efficiency in the Indian Armed Forces
How IETMs and CBTs Revolutionized Training and Operational Efficiency in the Indian Armed Forces Background: •
India’s defense ecosystem is one of the most complex in the world, with thousands of platforms and systems spanning land, air, and sea.
•
Each weapon system or platform whether it’s a frigate, radar, missile, or armored vehicle comprises hundreds of subsystems, developed by different Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
•
Historically, these systems came with voluminous printed manuals and classroom-based training modules, often exceeding tens of thousands of pages.
While this served its purpose decades ago, it created several challenges in a modern operational environment: •
Difficulty in finding correct procedures or fault isolation steps.
•
Non-standard documentation formats across OEMs.
•
Limited hands-on training exposure for technicians.
•
Inefficiencies in updating and managing documentation after modifications or upgrades.
•
Dependence on OEM engineers for even minor maintenance guidance.
Recognizing these issues, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) initiated a Digital Documentation and Training Modernization Program, introducing Interactive Electronic
Technical
Manuals
(IETMs) and Computer
Based
Training
(CBTs) as mandatory deliverables under the JSG 0852 Indian Defense Standard.
Objective: To enhance the Indian Armed Forces’ training and maintenance capabilities by introducing:
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•
Standardized, interactive digital documentation (IETMs)
•
Self-paced, visual, simulation-based training modules (CBTs)
•
Integration across all defense OEMs through a unified digital standard
•
Reduction in human error, downtime, and learning curve for complex systems
Implementation Strategy: 1. Development of JSG 0852-Compliant IETMs All OEMs involved in defense production including BEL, BDL, HAL, L&T, GRSE, MDL, GSL, and private vendors were instructed by DGQA to submit documentation in Level 4 IETM
format.
These
IETMs
were database
driven,
built
with hyperlinked
content, interactive schematics, searchable procedures, and Illustrated Parts Catalogues (IPC).
Each IETM included: •
Operation and Maintenance Manuals
•
Fault Diagnosis and Troubleshooting Flowcharts
•
Preventive Maintenance Schedules
•
Installation and Commissioning Procedures
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•
Spare Parts and Tools Lists
These digital manuals were then integrated into ship-level or system-level servers, accessible through secure onboard networks.
2. Creation of Computer Based Training (CBT) Modules Parallel to documentation digitization, CBT modules were developed for each system, combining: •
2D/3D animations
•
Step-by-step operation visuals
•
Interactive quizzes and assessments
•
Voice-over explanations in English and Hindi
These CBTs became the foundation for e-learning-based training in: •
Naval Training Establishments (INS Valsura, INS Shivaji, INS Agrani)
•
Army EME Schools (Secunderabad, Vadodara)
•
Air Force Technical Training Institutes (Jalahalli, Tambaram)
Impact and Outcomes: 1. Enhanced Training Efficiency •
With CBTs, training institutes transitioned from theory-heavy classroom sessions to interactive digital learning.
•
Trainees could now visualize complex mechanical and electronic systems through realistic animations.
Example: At INS, where marine engineers are trained, the introduction of CBTs for propulsion and auxiliary systems reduced the training time many. Trainees reported higher
retention of
concepts
due
to
visual
simulation-based
understanding.
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2. Improved Maintenance Readiness Earlier, maintainers relied on printed manuals that were cumbersome and timeconsuming. IETMs changed this by providing: •
Searchable fault codes
•
Linked circuit diagrams
•
Step-by-step repair procedures
Example: During
the
commissioning
of Naval
Offshore
Patrol
Vessels built
by Shipyard, onboard engineers used integrated IETMs to diagnose and rectify propulsion faults within minutes tasks that earlier took hours using printed documentation.
3. Standardization Across OEMs Different OEMs previously used their own formats, causing inconsistencies in documentation.
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JSG 0852 made it mandatory for all vendors to deliver in a standardized, interoperable structure, ensuring: •
Smooth integration into Ship-level IETM servers
•
Uniform user interface and navigation experience for crew
•
Simplified document management for the Indian Navy’s Technical Documentation Centers
Example: In the Shipyard Project , IETMs from multiple OEMs weapons, sensors, power, and auxiliary systems were successfully integrated into a single ship-level IETM environment.
4. Reduced Downtime and Faster Decision Making The availability of interactive troubleshooting guides enabled the crew to perform self-diagnosis and minor repairs independently. Example: In missile maintenance depots, IETM based troubleshooting reduced fault isolation time by up to 50%, enhancing missile system availability.
5. Continuous Lifecycle Support System upgrades and refits no longer require complete manual rewrites. OEMs can issue digital revisions, and maintainers receive updated modules instantly. This ensures: •
Full configuration control
•
Version history tracking
•
Long-term cost savings in documentation management
6. Paperless Defense Ecosystem By replacing thousands of pages of technical manuals with secure digital databases, the Armed Forces achieved: •
Faster information retrieval
•
Reduced logistic burden
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•
Eco-friendly documentation practice
•
Alignment with Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives
Key Measurable Benefits Parameter
Before IETM/CBT
After Implementation
Training Time
100% baseline
Reduced by 30–40%
Maintenance Error Rate
High due to manual lookup
Reduced by 60%
Documentation Update Time
Weeks to months
Within hours
Operational Downtime
Long during fault diagnosis
Reduced by 50%
Knowledge Retention (Training)
50–60%
Improved to 85–90%
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Conclusion: •
The implementation of IETMs and CBTs has revolutionized the Indian Armed Forces’ training and operational ecosystem.
•
From the shipyards to missile facilities of DRDO, digital documentation and learning systems have created a connected, standardized, and knowledgedriven defense infrastructure.
•
These tools not only enhanced efficiency but also aligned India’s defense capability with global digital standards, making our Armed Forces more agile, self-reliant, and future-ready.
“With IETMs and CBTs, the Indian Defense has transitioned from paper manuals to intelligent, interactive systems that think, learn, and evolve with every platform empowering every sailor, airman, and soldier with instant access to mission critical knowledge.” — Code and Pixels Interactive Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
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