Emerging Technologies in Defence

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, cyber technology, etc. are vital for Indian military and defence organisations.

What is emerging technology?

• Emerging technologies - It refers to innovative advancements or developments that have the potential to significantly change the way we live and work.
• These technologies arise from cutting-edge research and offer new opportunities for industries, economies, and societies.

What steps were taken to use emerging technologies in Indian defence sector?

• Chanakya Defence Dialogue- It was held in 2023 which serves as a forum to enhance national and regional security by discussing contemporary issues, including the impact of emerging technologies.
• Integrated Unmanned Roadmap- It is a comprehensive plan for the development and deployment of unmanned systems in the Indian Navy that aims to achieve standardization, interoperability and jointness.
• Project Swavlamban- It is an initiative to promote Atmanirbhar (self-reliance) in the defence sector by encouraging indigenisation of defence equipment and technology.
• AIDef- Artificial Intelligence in Defence is a symposium held in 2022 that showcased cutting edge AI enabled solutions developed by industry, start-ups etc.,
• It includes Defence AI Council and Defence AI Project Agency that facilitates AI integration in defence.
• Defence Cyber Agency- It was launched in 2018 to handle cyber security threats and to develop cyber warfare doctrine.
• Defence Space Agency- It is responsible for operating space warfare and satellite intelligence assets of India.

What are the challenges in utilising emerging technologies in India?

• Financial crunch- India’s defence spending is around 2.1% of GDP, which is insufficient to meet the requirement of armed forces and the defence industry.
• Lack of innovation- India invests very little in research and development in emerging technologies compared to its global leaders.
• Poor governance- India’s defence acquisition and procurement system is plagued by delays, corruption and red tapism.
• Outdated- The system is unable to cope with the fast paced and dynamic nature of emerging technologies, which require constant innovation and upgradation.
• Lack of skills- India faces a brain drain of its talent to foreign countries and industries and faces shortage of skilled and qualified personnel in emerging technologies.
• Inefficiency- India’s armed forces operate in silos and lack interoperability among themselves and with the civilian sector.
• It hampers the effective integration and utilisation of emerging technologies, which require seamless coordination and collaboration across domains and platforms.
• Lack of standardization- India lacks a clear and coherent strategic vision and doctrine for the use of emerging technologies in defence.
• India has not articulated its objectives, priorities, and principles for the development and deployment of these technologies.
• It has not defined its thresholds, norms, and rules of engagement for their employment in conflict scenarios.