Future Tech

Atul Chandra

The Indian Army is increasing induction of cutting-edge technologies for various purposes as part of its modernisation plans. This has been necessitated by the sea change taking place in warfare due to the emergence of new domains and disruptive technologies, compelling the Indian Army to reorganize and re-structure to fight future wars.

Former COAS General MM Naravane at the Army’s Quantum Laboratory in MHOW

The army top brass is now seized of the need to induct emerging and disruptive technologies, if the manpower intensive service is to transform itself to meet future security challenges. The army is already investing heavily into Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Weapon Systems, Quantum Technologies, Robotics, Cloud Computing and Algorithm Warfare in order to achieve convergence between its war fighting philosophies and military attributes of these technologies.

The army is now participating in a wide array of technology initiatives in coordination with start-ups, MSMEs, Private Sector, Academia, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). In December 2020, the army along with support from the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), conducted an outreach webinar for start-ups in emerging technologies. 89 start-ups pitched their proposals focused on the field of Drones, Counter Drones, Robotics, Autonomous Systems, AI, Quantum computing, Block chain technology, 3D printing, Nanotechnology and Medical applications. The webinars organised by the Army Design Bureau (ADB) resulted in 13 proposals being short listed for assessment of their viability and applicability for military use.

Looking Ahead

To study the whole gamut of issues on the implications of AI on national security and defence needs, a multi-stakeholder Task Force on Strategic Implementation of AI for National Security and Defence was constituted in February 2018. The task force