Indian Army: Exploiting Artificial Intelligence

Project Ekam AI for AI First Cert

As the AI Summit is ongoing in Delhi, here is a look at how Indian Army is exploiting Artificial Intelligence

General  Possibly drawing lessons from the War in Ukraine where innovation by forward troops has been a battle winning factor for Ukraine as well as Russia, the Indian Army under the Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi’s initiative, has launched several projects in the recent past essentially focused on enhancing battlefield efficiency and effectiveness exploiting modern technology under Atma Nirbharata. Thus on the eve of the Vijay Diwas, Indian Army organised “At Home” in Army House, [Official Residence of the Chief of the Army Staff] in New Delhi. With President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu an Army press release highlighted, “an impressive showcase of indigenously developed technologies and niche capabilities, reflecting Indian Army’s steady transformation into a modern, innovative and self-reliant force”. Vijay Diwas is celebrated in India to mark the decisive victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 War. Amongst the category of equipment and technologies demonstrated were those focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Drone and Related Systems, Mobility and Connectivity projects and force multipliers as indicated below based on the Indian Army Press Release.

Indian Army Artificial Intelligence Led Innovations

Artificial Intelligence for Better Ground Awareness. An AI-based satellite imagery analysis system that helps interpret satellite pictures quickly and accurately. Instead of manually studying images, the system uses artificial intelligence to identify changes, track developments and flag important observations. Developed with Indian startups and academic institutions, the technology supports better planning, monitoring and decision-making. While it strengthens the Army’s awareness and preparedness, the system can also support civilian agencies in areas such as disaster monitoring, land management, agriculture assessment and infrastructure planning. The initiative demonstrates how advanced technology developed for defence can directly support national development.

Portable AI System for Remote Areas. An “AI-in-a-Box” allows users to analyse information, plan tasks and receive decision support independently. Built to work in tough conditions, the system ensures that technology remains available even in remote locations. Developed with Indian research institutions and industry partners, it highlights how artificial intelligence can be adapted to Indian conditions rather than relying on imported solutions. The same technology can also support disaster relief teams and emergency planners working in isolated regions. It offers dual-use strategic capabilities, including intelligence automation, real-time situational awareness, vision-based inspection, logistics forecasting, process optimisation, and training simulations, making it a force multiplier for the Armed Forces as well as government agencies and critical national infrastructure.

Ekam AI – India’s Secure AI Platform. Ekam AI is a fully indigenous and secure artificial intelligence platform designed for sensitive environments. It enables users to analyse information, manage documents, and support decision-making without dependence on foreign software or external cloud systems. Built for ease of use, it allows personnel at different levels to leverage AI-enabled support without requiring specialised technical expertise. By ensuring complete data security and sovereignty, Ekam AI marks a significant step towards building trusted national digital systems.

Separately as per the Indian Express, Indian Army has drawn up a detailed roadmap identifying key areas where it plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics by 2026–27.

These include text summarisers built on Large Language Models (LLMs) to scan and condense long reports, AI-powered chatbots, voice-to-text systems, facial recognition, and tools that can detect unusual patterns or threats.

The Indian Express reports that AI will be used to analyse feeds from drones, satellites, aircraft and ground sensors, and fuse data in real time to support faster, more informed decision-making.

AI task force under the Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS), with representatives from other Army directorates is being set up to oversee the implementation of niche technologies across the force. This will include areas such as training and capacity building, data sharing, maintenance and support, integration, promoting research and development, and incorporating these technologies into procurement processes. Rapid innovation in this domains implies that many of the plans could be rapidly fructifying.