Defence Ministry Collaborates with AI Mission to Build Secure Military AI Layer, Says RK Singh

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is collaborating with the AI Mission to develop a dedicated military AI layer, according to Defence Secretary RK Singh. Speaking at a KPMG event on Friday, Singh stated that the initiative aims to provide secure domestic computing infrastructure to support decision-making, target acquisition, and data fusion, ultimately creating an efficient sensor-to-shooter loop.

To accelerate this development, the Ministry plans to collaborate with private sector companies already selected by the AI Mission. Singh noted that this approach will help maintain technological sovereignty in critical capability domains. He emphasized that the process for building this military layer is already underway.

Addressing the need for indigenous capabilities, Singh stated that self-reliance is essential in critical areas. He warned that foreign suppliers may withhold advanced technology or introduce security vulnerabilities, such as backdoors or kill switches. However, he clarified that partnerships with friendly nations remain an option for developing these capabilities.

On the structural front, Singh shared an update regarding the theatreisation of commands, which aims to improve operational jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He stated that the blueprint has been finalized and is currently awaiting approval at the highest level. Despite some reservations expressed by outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Defence Secretary reiterated that multi-domain warfare across space, cyber, land, sea, and air necessitates integrated theatre commands.

The Defence Secretary also highlighted India's growing footprint in global defence exports. Citing a Bloomberg report, he noted that India has emerged as the third-largest arms exporter to Europe over the past year. This growth is largely driven by supplies of artillery shells, including 155-mm rounds, under the ReArm Europe initiative. Additional Indian exports include protective gear like bulletproof jackets and helmets, small arms, avionics, armoured platforms, artillery gun systems, Dornier aircraft, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which are under contract or negotiation in Southeast Asia.

Discussing international trade partnerships, Singh mentioned that India's first security and defence partnership with the European Union was signed alongside the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. He pointed out that nations like Greece and Cyprus can serve as gateways for Indian firms to participate in ReArm Europe programmes through direct involvement or joint ventures. Conversely, European companies looking to enter the Indian defence market must establish joint ventures and comply with Make in India regulations, requiring at least 50 percent localisation compared to roughly 25 percent in Europe.

"The integration of domestic artificial intelligence into military infrastructure presents a significant commercial and technological opportunity for private sector innovators in India. By leveraging private companies selected through the AI Mission, the Ministry of Defence is opening doors for deep-tech startups and tech enterprises to contribute to national security. For entrepreneurs, aligning with indigenous capability requirements and meeting local manufacturing standards will be key to participating in these strategic defence partnerships and expanding into global markets." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes