Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) Amid rapidly changing global dynamics of warfare, where artificial intelligence, data dominance and real-time decision-making are increasingly shaping the battlefield, India’s defence preparedness is undergoing a decisive technological shift.
The growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in military operations has come into sharp focus following Operation Sindoor, where a suite of 23 indigenously developed digital applications played a critical role in enhancing operational efficiency, coordination and situational awareness.
The evolving AI-driven defence ecosystem has also been highlighted by the union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, who recently spoke about the transformative impact of AI in strengthening India’s military capabilities and future-proofing national security.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Vaishnaw, while refraining from disclosing the name of the operation or the specific AI model involved, said the recent AI integrations into country’s defence ecosystem had delivered phenomenal results. “I wouldn’t take any names, but I can tell you in full confidence that during one major defence scenario in the country in recent times, the sovereign model developed in the country used in that particular operation, the results it produced were phenomenal,” the minister said.
“These models, which are built by the 12 startups that we have funded and supported, and one of the IITs which has supported, are good for practically every application that we need as a country,” he added further.
In 2025, India launched one of its biggest counter-terrorism strikes against terrorists and terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. The operation saw nine identified targets destroyed within minutes through meticulously planned precision strikes, undertaken in retaliation for the killing of 26 civilians in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
During a press briefing in October 2025, Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni, who is serving as DG EME and was formerly in charge of DG information systems stated that the Indian Army was powered by more than 23 indigenous applications to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and logistics operations during ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“During Operation Sindoor, there were 23 applications that were used to deal with data and inputs. Commanders were getting an integrated picture with, of course, the use of AI that was used for data fusion,” Lt Gen Sahni had said.
Lt Gen Sahni said each of the applications was designed for a clearly defined function and could be accessed by commanders and officers strictly on a need-to-know basis, in accordance with their operational roles and responsibilities. “In such a scenario, where commanders are operating elsewhere, the threat assessment, internal analysis, multi-sensor data fusion, and multi-source code data fusion, all this was happening with the help of AI. We were actually generating some kind of heat maps in the joint operational control centre to understand what kind of activity was happening. We could then prioritise activities and enable precise targeting,” he said.
Among the key systems is the Electronic Intelligence Collation and Analysis System (ECAS), which is used to identify, track and analyse adversary sensors and communication frequencies with an accuracy of over 90 per cent. The system strengthens electronic warfare capabilities by providing actionable intelligence in near real time.
Another major capability boost came from the TRINETRA system, which has been integrated with Project SANJAY to generate a common, real-time operational and intelligence picture at both tactical and operational levels.
Project SANJAY, a comprehensive battlefield surveillance system, enables the use of “edge AI”, allowing local commanders to take swift decisions based on real-time inputs without relying solely on centralised processing.
In the domain of firepower and targeting, the AI-enabled Meteorological Reporting System, developed in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department, provides accurate 72-hour weather forecasts, aiding precise long-range artillery engagement.
Complementing this is Predictive Threat Modelling, an AI framework that anticipates enemy movement patterns by analysing time, space and resource data, thereby enhancing preparedness and response.
Secure communication and data handling form another critical pillar of AI integration. The M-Sigma app, an indigenous and secure mobile messaging platform, is used on SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version) smartphones, replacing commercial applications such as WhatsApp for sensitive communications. These devices operate on SAMBHAV OS, a secure operating system specifically designed for military use.
Additionally, AI-based data fusion tools integrate inputs from multiple sensors and sources, creating a unified and real-time battlefield intelligence picture.
In the air defence domain, the Akashteer Control System has emerged as a critical automated solution for tracking and engaging aerial targets, significantly improving response times and coordination.
