The Indian Army is steadily transforming into a data-driven, AI-enabled force, fully aligned with India’s vision of technological self-reliance and secure digital capability. At the India AI Summit 2026, the Army highlighted a range of indigenous AI solutions designed to deliver substantial value across both defence and civilian domains. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, situational awareness, and disaster response, while also strengthening national technological capabilities.

Major General VTS Varaich, ADG of Information Systems in the Indian Army, explained that the Army’s journey toward implementing AI and other core technologies began long ago and has been carefully planned over the years. Speaking to ANI, he emphasized that the adoption of AI is not just a technological exercise but a strategic approach aimed at improving the effectiveness of commanders and soldiers on the ground. He highlighted the importance of co-partnerships with Indian industry, stating that collaboration will help develop world-class solutions that enhance operational efficiency and serve the nation at large. Major General Varaich described the seminar as a significant achievement for Indian industry, noting that initiatives led by the Confederation of Indian Industry and SIDM demonstrate how AI can be leveraged to strengthen defence capabilities.

He further elaborated that the Army’s focus is not merely on acquiring technology but on implementing functional, mission-oriented solutions. With long-term vision, dedicated funding, and consistent efforts, the Army has established integrated networks that support multi-domain operations, encompassing land, air, and cyber domains. He stressed that the Army’s progress is driven by its will, commitment, and persistence rather than budget constraints, exemplified by the continuous implementation of public-private partnerships and various technology projects.

Addressing potential risks, Major General Varaich cautioned about challenges like deepfakes and highlighted ongoing work to ensure AI applications maintain accuracy above 99.5 percent through trust-based algorithms. This illustrates the Army’s balanced approach—adopting AI for operational and strategic advantage while safeguarding against misuse and cyber threats.

The Army’s AI initiatives are wide-ranging, covering education, training, situational awareness, disaster prediction, security, and logistics. Systems like AI-based assessment tools for training, geospatial situational awareness platforms, air-gapped AI cloud solutions for secure data handling, climatology prediction tools, facial recognition systems, mobile telemetry reporting platforms, driver fatigue detection devices, portable edge AI platforms, AI-enabled fleet monitoring systems, and deepfake detection and cybersecurity tools demonstrate the Army’s commitment to leveraging AI across multiple operational areas.

Together, these efforts signify a decisive shift toward a networked, AI-empowered ecosystem that enhances defence preparedness, disaster resilience, and national development. By integrating AI deeply into its operations, the Indian Army is positioning itself as a forward-looking, technologically advanced force, capable of achieving high operational efficiency while fostering strong collaboration with India’s technology sector to develop solutions that are globally competitive.