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India Today
29-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
AI Warfare: Can India take the lead?
The future of warfare is being rewritten by artificial intelligence, and India is positioning itself at the forefront of this digital revolution. As autonomous drones execute precision strikes and algorithms command battlefield operations, the question isn't whether AI will dominate military strategy, but whether India will lead or lag in this critical transformation. AI: The New Backbone of Military OperationsadvertisementBy 2030, AI is projected to become the backbone of global military operations, merging land, sea, air, space, and cyber warfare into a unified, intelligent theatre. Modern armies cannot remain relevant without embracing this technology, as AI systems now process more data in seconds than human generals can analyse in has recognised this paradigm shift. The Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 the 'Year of Reforms', with AI and robotics taking centre stage. This isn't merely symbolic: over 75 AI-powered defence products have been indigenously developed, ranging from autonomous drones to smart surveillance and cyber defence India's AI-First Military StrategyThe creation of the Defence AI Council (DAIC) and the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA) signals India's serious commitment to AI integration. Each service arm, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, now operates dedicated AI working groups, with annual budgets allocated and comprehensive roadmaps the ground, this technology is already operational. In Kashmir, AI-powered drones patrol terrain too dangerous for human forces. Along the Line of Control, swarm drones provide area denial and predictive threat detection. The Avekshan system distinguishes between livestock and genuine threats, filtering false alarms while delivering real-time InnovationsIndia's drone capabilities showcase its AI ambitions most clearly. Surveillance UAVs like Heron and Rustom sweep vast border zones with precision, while combat drones like Rudrastra execute strikes in hostile terrain. Swarm technology enables dozens of AI-powered drones to operate as a collective intelligence, jamming enemy radars and intercepting Indrajaal defensive drone shield protects 4,000 square kilometres using AI-driven interception technology. The D4 Anti-Drone system, featuring 360-degree radar and laser tracking, has intercepted over 80% of rogue drones Borders and Strategic DefenceIndia's extensive borders now feature 'smart' defensive systems with laser walls, facial recognition, motion sensors, and real-time alerts. Project Himshakti utilises satellite data and AI modelling to predict potential cross-border movement routes, shifting focus from reaction to Government: A Growing EcosystemIndia's AI defence ecosystem extends beyond government laboratories. Startups like ideaForge and DSRL produce battlefield-ready drones and surveillance tools, while the iDEX initiative fuels defence technology entrepreneurship. Microsoft's $3 billion commitment to India's AI infrastructure demonstrates international confidence in the country's Ambitions and ChallengesWith a $5 billion defence export target by 2025, India eyes international markets for its AI-enabled products. These technologies often have dual-use civilian applications in disaster response, logistics, and medical aid, expanding market opportunities and diplomatic challenges remain: procurement delays, fragmented frameworks, ethical considerations, and shortages of AI-literate personnel. The critical question is whether India can maintain momentum in a rapidly evolving global landscape where China, the United States, and Israel continue advancing their own AI warfare stands at the threshold of military innovation, ready to become not just AI-ready, but AI-dominant in the algorithmic age of warfare.- Ends
India.com
17-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
How India's Tech Arsenal Gave It The Edge In 4-Day Clash With Pakistan
New Delhi: In a swift and high-stakes military confrontation with Pakistan that unfolded between May 6 and May 10, India showcased more than just firepower. It demonstrated how a fusion of artificial intelligence, advanced computing and indigenous defence technology is reshaping modern warfare. According to reports, India not only intercepted and neutralised a series of attacks but also carried out deep strikes on key Pakistani military installations. The backbone of this performance was not just boots on the ground or jets in the sky, it was intelligence in the wires and data in the clouds. AI-Driven Warfare Takes Center Stage In what may be one of the clearest demonstrations yet of how digital warfare meets traditional combat, India deployed AI-powered cloud-based Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS). These systems provided real-time situational awareness across multiple theatres: air, land and sea. From recognising hostile radar signatures to orchestrating precision strikes and launching defensive responses across domains, AI served as the central nervous system of India's operations. By leveraging AI, India was able to preemptively identify enemy aircraft and missile trajectories, position its own forces strategically and execute 'hard kill' (physical interception) and 'soft kill' (electronic jamming or deception) responses seamlessly. These capabilities turned the tide against incoming aerial threats and allowed Indian forces to dominate the skies and strike at will. A Decade of Strategic Tech Investment Bears Fruit This high-tech dominance was not built overnight. Back in 2018, the Ministry of Defence constituted a multi-stakeholder task force to assess how AI could be integrated into national security. As a result, the Defence AI Council (DAIC) and the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA) were established. These institutions were tasked with driving AI integration across India's defence apparatus. By 2022, the government had greenlit 70 AI-specific defence projects through a dedicated roadmap for public sector units. Of those, 40 had already been completed by then. The total count of greenlit AI-based defence initiatives now stands at 129, with 77 finalised. Each branch of the armed forces was allotted Rs 100 crore exclusively for AI adoption. The results are showing. Indigenous Tech Stepping Up India's public sector defence giants have taken the lead in building AI-powered systems designed to match evolving battlefield needs. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), for example, developed a next-generation AI-based solution to detect, classify and track enemy aircraft. This is now a key component of the IACCS, which integrates data from multiple defence assets to give a 360-degree view of the aerial theatre. The system enables quicker, smarter and more coordinated responses to aerial threats. The Indian Army, meanwhile, has rolled out an AI-based Intercept Management System (IMS) specifically tailored for operations in the Western Theatre. It uses advanced visualisation and machine learning techniques to automate intercept analysis, offering military intelligence teams a sharper and data-driven view of adversarial activity. The Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR) – a DRDO lab – has also delivered an Air Defence Control and Reporting System. This system enables early detection and engagement of aerial threats, integrating a variety of air defence weapons to push interception lines far away from civilian targets. Strategic Depth Beyond The Frontline India's tech-driven defence infrastructure is more than just futuristic gadgetry. It is a reflection of a broader shift in military strategy: from reactive posturing to anticipatory dominance. By harnessing AI and indigenous systems, India has gained not only agility and precision in its responses but also strategic depth in offensive capabilities. The ability to strike deep into hostile territory while maintaining a resilient defence grid signals a maturing military doctrine that is prepared for hybrid warfare – where information, timing and autonomy matter just as much as ammunition. As the dust settles from the four-day confrontation, it is clear that India's growing technological sophistication – much of it homegrown – has begun to tip the scales in its favour on the battlefield. What was once considered a supporting role for AI in defence has now moved to the frontlines.
