India to Build Own Military AI Layer to Counter Modern Threats
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh reveals plans for a domestic military AI layer and a multi-layered air defence grid to counter drone warfare.
India is aggressively restructuring its defence framework to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and the rise of drone warfare. In a significant move toward technological sovereignty, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has announced that the country must develop its own military AI layer to ensure secure and efficient decision-making on the battlefield.
Why India Needs a Sovereign AI Layer
Speaking at the Agrasar Bharat Manch Event, the Defence Secretary emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern combat. The integration of AI is critical for several high-stakes military functions, including:
- Decision Support: Enhancing the speed and accuracy of command decisions.
- Target Acquisition: Identifying and locking onto threats with precision.
- Data Fusion: Creating a seamless "sensor-to-shooter" loop where data from various sources is merged to trigger immediate action.
Singh stressed that the nature of the data involved in these processes is so sensitive that relying on foreign entities is not an option. "Because it's too critical a technology to rely on foreign companies, we intend to do it ourselves to the extent we can," he stated, though he noted that collaborations with trusted, friendly foreign nations remain a possibility.
Mobilizing Resources and Private Partnerships
To bring this vision to life, the government is mobilizing national compute resources. The Defence Secretary revealed that the ministry is working closely with the AI mission to procure the necessary computing power.
The strategy involves a hybrid approach: leveraging government resources while "piggybacking" on selected private industry partners who have already been vetted and chosen by the AI mission to help build this specialized AI infrastructure for the armed forces.
Building an 'Iron Dome' for India
Beyond AI, India is making strides in creating a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence grid. This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of establishing a protective shield similar to the "Iron Dome."
The backbone of this system is the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). According to Singh, the IACCS is now fully networked, connecting:
- Ground-level radars
- Aerial platforms
- Air defence systems
The Return of 'Vintage' Hardware in Drone Warfare
One of the most interesting takeaways from the Defence Secretary's address was the renewed value of older military equipment. In the era of asymmetric warfare, where cheap kamikaze drones can challenge expensive assets, high-cost missiles are not always the most efficient answer.
Singh pointed out the economic disparity in modern combat: while a single missile can cost between ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore, the drones they target are often mass-produced and inexpensive. To counter this, India is retrofitting vintage air defence guns with modern radars.
"A lot of vintage equipment, air defence guns, for example, retrofitted with radars are extremely useful again because of the fact that they are much cheaper to use against drones as compared to utilizing missiles."
By modernizing and networking these older platforms, India aims to create a cost-effective defence layer capable of neutralizing low-cost "luxury munitions" without draining the treasury on high-value interceptors.