Every generation of the military adapts to new technologies that reshape how wars are fought, with warfare evolving towards precision strikes, remote operations, and data-driven decision-making. Network-centric command systems and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have thrust drones and unmanned platforms to the center of modern battlefields. At the ET Now Global Business Summit (GBS), experts dissected a pivotal question for India: how can the nation achieve self-reliance in AI and future warfare?
Dr Sudhir Mishra, former Director-General (BrahMos) at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), emphasized the foundational elements required for India to emerge as a powerhouse in defence technology. "To become a very powerful nation in the defence technology, we need to have a design and manufacturing capability, very clear government policies, very top class marketing team, and of course, the support of government at all the level," he opined during the summit.
Mishra highlighted the development of state-of-the-art weapons as crucial for India's transition from a major defence importer to a manufacturer. He pointed to the BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, which is now completely manufactured in the country. "The Brahmos, as you know, is a joint venture between India and Russia, and we have completely manufactured the missile in our country. And to export it, to export any weapon, we have developed the manufacturing capability in our country," he stated.
The expert also underscored government initiatives supporting this shift. "Now, when it comes to substitution of imported system with our own system, with our own indigenous systems, the government has already declared that Make in India, our Atmanirbhar policy, and providing full support," Mishra added, noting the full backing at all levels to foster indigenous production.
Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd.), former Director-General of the Centre for Air Power Studies, delved into the disruptive potential of AI in aerial warfare. He predicted that unmanned systems would perform all possible roles, but always with human oversight. "The unmanned system will do all the roles possible, but they will have a man in the loop," Chopra said.
Chopra discussed the trajectory of fighter aircraft development globally. "And that is why if you see the fifth and sixth generation aeroplanes being built around the world and the seventh generation aircraft which are on the drawing boards, all have got the man in it. And what will happen will be man unmanned teaming. So that is where the future is," he explained, envisioning a collaborative future between humans and unmanned platforms.
The discussions at the ET Now Global Business Summit underscored India's strategic pivot towards self-reliance amid global advancements in AI-driven defence technologies, positioning the nation to navigate the complexities of next-generation warfare.
