Copyright Newsweek
India is fast emerging as an AI‑enabled military power, investing heavily in artificial intelligence as it joins the global race to modernize defence, according to a new Cybernews report. “AI will enhance battlefield awareness and decision‑making at the tactical level in a complex battlefield environment,” Lieutenant Colonel Abhaya Mahajan told the outlet. From autonomous drones to predictive maintenance, India is embedding AI at the heart of its armed forces, signaling a major shift in how militaries worldwide are preparing for next‑generation warfare. Newsweek has reached out the India's Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters AI is becoming central to modern military strategy, where success increasingly depends on speed, data integration, and autonomous systems rather than manpower alone. India’s Operation Sindoor, a cross-border mission against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in May, tested AI in real time, using precision strikes and intelligence-driven maneuvers. Militaries from the United States to China and Israel are embedding AI across operations, signaling that technological superiority will define next-generation warfare. What To Know India’s adoption of AI in defense has moved steadily from policy frameworks to active deployment. Over recent years, the military has integrated AI into logistics, command-and-control systems, reconnaissance, and battlefield simulations. The government has allocated more than $11 million to AI projects in its 2025-26 defense budget of around $77.5 billion, signaling a strategic commitment to technology-driven modernization AI in Action Operation Sindoor showcased India’s growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare during one of the most serious India–Pakistan clashes in years. India’s strikes targeted what it called terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, prompting retaliatory artillery and drone fire before both sides pulled back. Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni, former director general of Information Systems, told The Times of India that the Army used AI for multi-sensor data fusion, threat prioritization, and operational coordination. The AI platforms used sharpened battlefield awareness, accelerated decisions, and improved strike precision. Global Context India’s roadmap, including drone swarming, combat simulation, predictive maintenance, and AI-ready procurement standards, is aligned with global trends. The U.S. continues to invest heavily in AI-enabled drones, autonomous vehicles, and battlefield simulations, while China has incorporated AI into long-range missile targeting and surveillance networks. Israel has operationalized AI-assisted threat detection and cyberdefense. What People Are Saying Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni told The Times of India: “AI was extensively used for multi-sensor data fusion and real-time intelligence during Operation Sindoor.” Lieutenant Colonel Abhaya Mahajan told Cybernews: “AI will enhance battlefield awareness and decision-making at the tactical level in a complex battlefield environment. At the strategic level, threat perception will turn to threat detection, thus reducing the element of surprise and better utilization of available resources.” What Happens Next India is transitioning from a digital-enabled to an AI-enabled military. By integrating AI-driven intelligence, autonomous systems, and predictive logistics into tactical and strategic operations, it aims to strengthen deterrence and operational efficiency while keeping pace with a global shift toward technologically advanced warfare.
