Written By Puja Bhardwaj
Artificial intelligence has sparked a worldwide revolution. As reported by Gartner, the worldwide spending on AI is expected to reach around $2.59 trillion this year, recording a 47% increment on a yearly basis. Like other sectors, AI has become a major part of operations in global militaries. The defence sector leverages AI technologies for training, surveillance, logistics, cybersecurity, UAVs, military weaponry like LAWS, autonomous combat vehicles, and robotics.
The defence sector in India is stepping ahead to harness the power of AI and digital technology. Recently, the Defence Ministry has partnered with the innovative edtech startup, Apna College, to offer AI and modern tech training to soldiers of the Indian Army. The purpose of this unique initiative is to provide military personnel with innovative and advanced knowledge and upskill them in AI, data science, and upcoming technologies.
It further aims to empower them to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital battlefield. India is preparing its soldiers for the era of cybersecurity, automation, and intelligent systems, apart from basic physical warfare. It is a proud moment for India’s edtech ecosystem. By including advanced technology like artificial intelligence in defence training, such programmes like this highlight how education, startups, and government collaboration can bring growth to the nation.
Empowering soldiers with future-ready skills strengthens both the nation’s security and technological growth. It also showcases the increasing role of edtech innovation in modern defence strategies.
The initial sessions of the programme experience high curiosity and engagement among soldiers, mainly through AI from a security and surveillance perspective, showcasing how India’s defence forces are preparing for a tech-driven future.
Sharing about the news, the Apna College team says this is both an honour and a responsibility to contribute to the community and serve the nation with great dedication. The team has expressed gratitude for the Army’s trust and aspires to build a long-term ecosystem of continuous learning and innovation.
AI Meets Army: Major Implementation
AI-based solutions help in monitoring border monitoring by integrating cameras, radar feeds, sensors, and other technologies.
They also help in finding border breaches, diversifying targets, and enhancing the precision of defence operations.
AI-based aircraft technology strengthens the drones with great proficiency in managing surveillance operations, managing border control and complete surveillance.
Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) come with integrated sensors and pre-programmed algorithms, finding, choosing and tracking hostile targets.
AI powers robots that perform better in hazardous and high-pressure environments, surpassing human skills
Artificial intelligence helps in analysing data from various sources and discerning patterns. It aims to forecast possible terrorist attacks and insurgency activity and suggest solutions proactively.
The Early Efforts
In 2021, the Indian Army showcased AI implementation in the operation with an AI-enabled swarm of 75 aerial drones and used AI for multiple purposes. While AI’s number, nature and public–private status are classified, the government has projects around atmospheric visibility, imagery analysis, and ship tracking.
AI application centres have become a crucial part of all the armed-service branches, including the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow (Army), the INS Valsura (Navy) and Air Force Station Rajokri (Air Force).
For AI implementation, India’s long-standing public-sector defence organisations, including Bharat Electronics Limited and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), have played crucial roles. These organisations are actively engaged with military branches and civilian institutions.
While India’s defence system has integrated artificial intelligence on different levels, the country is still just starting to use AI for national defence purposes. It further aspires to boost these capabilities by working in association with the domestic industry and through ongoing overseas partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Defence Ministry partner with the Apna College Partners?
Apna College has partnered with the Defence Ministry to train the Army community in practical applications of AI/ML, create solid basic knowledge and empower them to stay updated with key technological trends shaping the global defence sector.
What is Apna College?
Founded in 2020, Apna College is an unfunded company founded by Shradha Khapra and Aman Dhattarwal. Based in New Delhi, this platform works as a digital platform offering coding courses and placement preparation for the learners.
