Innovations in Military Technology: The Role of AI and Autonomous Systems in Modern Warfare

By Suraj Yadav

Introduction

The battles between Israel and Hamas, Russia and Ukraine, and Azerbaijan and Armenia have drawn attention to the employment of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in warfare, particularly the deployment of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS).  India ranks third¹ in G20 countries in AI-based startups. Make in India in Defence and Digital India — to bring a technological revolution in the defence industry. The National Institution² for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and the Ministry of Defence partnered to build a roadmap for integrating AI within the defence forces in 2018. The International Committee of the Red Cross has lobbied for enforceable regulations that forbid the use of some autonomous weaponry, limit the use of others, and demand some degree of human decision-making when deciding when to employ force.

Turing Test

As far as artificial intelligence goes, the Turing Test is legendary. Though artificial intelligence would not be officially named until 1956, Turing’s universal machine was conceptualised as an extremely rudimentary form of it from the outset. This demonstrated the usefulness of AI-like methods in a practical setting. The development of contemporary computing and artificial intelligence was greatly aided by Turing’s work on the Enigma code.

Stuxnet

The Iran uranium enrichment facility in Natanz is said to have had nearly a thousand centrifuges damaged by Stuxnet. The malware’s intended effect was to spiral out of control and self-destruct in order to destroy the centrifuges. Significant obstacles to Iran’s nuclear program were brought about by the attack. As per sources, Iran’s nuclear aspirations were postponed by several years due to the damage caused by Stuxnet. The abrupt and inexplicable centrifuge failures confounded the program and caused doubt and disturbance within Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s trust in the safety of its nuclear infrastructure was further undermined by the Stuxnet revelation.

Iranian officials admitted that the malware had infected computers at several nuclear plants, and they were having difficulty stopping its spread and getting rid of it from their networks. Stuxnet had wider strategic ramifications than just the physical harm it caused to centrifuges. It revealed how susceptible Iran’s nuclear sites were to cyberattacks and sparked worries about the safety of industrial control systems linked to computer networks. Iran most certainly responded to this by stepping up its efforts to conceal and safeguard its nuclear program.

India’s Counter-Drone Efforts and Border Surveillance

India has regularly used drones to monitor its borders, especially those bordering China and Pakistan. An Indian Heron crashed in December 2017 close to the Doklam Plateau, where China and India have conflicting territory claims. The crash occurred on the Chinese side of the border. China protested the “air intrusion” following the incident, which happened months after a stalemate between Indian and Chinese forces on the plateau. A minimum of four locations in northwest India have received Indian Herons since their deployment: Tezpur Air Force Station in 2015, Bagdogra Air Force Station in 2017, Chabua Air Force Station in 2018, and Kumbhirgram Air Force Station in 2019. These bases are located in the region.

Indian Searcher Mk IIs have been stationed at the Jaisalmer and Nal air bases near the Pakistani border in the meantime. In order to keep an eye on marine activities near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Indian Navy sent a Heron and a Searcher Mk II to Port Blair in 2015. Drones have also been used by India in the province of Jammu and Kashmir for operations. It is thought that two Indian Air Force UAV squadrons are stationed at the air stations in Jammu and Awantipora. Herons and members of the Indian Air Force engaged in operations against Maoist forces in central India at the beginning of the 2010s on behalf of the National Technological Research Organisation.

Rustom UAV

About 250 drone sightings on the Pakistani side of the international border have been reported by the Indian security forces since 2019. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India developed an indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone called Rustom UAV. It comes in a number of forms:

• Rustom-1: A 200 km long, 12–14 hour endurance tactical surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle.
• The larger model, Rustom-H, has two turboprop engines and a 24-hour endurance. A combat-capable Rustom-C version will also be available.
• Rustom-II (TAPAS-BH-201): The most recent and sophisticated version, intended for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) operations. Its 350 km range, endurance for 24 hours, and 350 kg cargo capacity are impressive.

D-4 Drone System

• Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy system (D4S) is the first anti-drone system to be incorporated into the Indian Armed Forces.
• Its goal is to Identify rogue drones that are most likely to target the most susceptible locations. The D4 system can kill targets using a laser-based kill mechanism (Hard kill) and quickly identify and jam micro-drones (Soft kill).
• The signals are jammed after the RF/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) of DRDO is used to identify the frequency that the controller is using micro-drones can be detected and jammed up to three kilometres away.

Vajra Sentinel

This system detects, tracks, and accurately identifies drone targets using computer vision algorithms, AI and passive RF sensors and combines “hard kill” capabilities, such as utilising interceptor drones or laser-based weaponry to destroy the target, with “soft kill” countermeasures, such as blocking the drone’s command and control lines. With hard kill settings activated at 5–6 km, it can disable drones and swarm UAVs at up to 10 km range. Created by the Indian start-up Big Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS) and integrated into the Indian Army and Indian Air Force through a ₹200 crore contract—among the biggest agreements ever made between an Indian start-up and the Ministry of Defence.

Indrajaal

Hyderabad, India-based Gene Robotics³, a private company, created the sophisticated counter-drone technology known as ‘Indrajaal‘. It is intended to detect, identify, track, and eliminate a broad variety of drone threats, ranging in size from tiny to huge, such as swarm drones, low-RCS missiles, autonomous UAVs and smart bombs. With its 12 patented technologies and networked, modular architecture, Indrajaal offers all-encompassing protection when used in tandem. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are used by AI-powered Indrajaal to analyse threats, track them, identify them, and automatically launch countermeasures. Extensive coverage The system’s mesh network architecture allows it to safeguard an area up to 4,000 square kilometres. Integration of many sensors To identify and follow threats, it makes use of a range of sensors, including as thermal, RF, electro-optical, and auditory.

• Autonomous operation: Without human assistance, Indrajaal is capable of operating alone, including the take-off and landing of its own counter-drones. Indrajaal is designed to protect military installations, key infrastructure, moving targets like convoys, and broad areas like borders.
• Layered defence: It integrates diverse countermeasures like jammers, directed energy weapons, and surface-to-air missiles. With traditional systems finding it difficult to successfully tackle the growing threat of drone-based attacks and disruptive activities, it seeks to address these issues. The technology is being positioned for both domestic and export markets, having been demonstrated to the Indian armed forces and paramilitary.

SMASH 2000 Plus

Using artificial intelligence, computer vision, and sophisticated algorithms, the SMASH⁴ 2000L/3000 is the lightest handheld fire control system. It maximises force lethality, operational effectiveness, and situational awareness throughout every engagement, day or night, making it the perfect hard-kill solution against drones and small UAS. The majority of AK-47 and AK-203 rifles have it fitted. With its clever lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged, SMASH⁵ 2000L/3000 can operate for up to 72 hours, or roughly 3,600 SMASH-assisted shots.

AGNI-D

India’s AGNI-D⁶ was designed by army electrician Captain Vikas Tripathi with the express purpose of identifying and tracking threats along its borders with China and Pakistan. Easily deployable and versatile, it may be linked to army cables or monitoring systems by copying it onto a CD. For boundary monitoring and breach detection, it makes use of sensors, radar data, UAV feeds, and high-resolution cameras. The system immediately notifies the troops by using sophisticated algorithms to go through camera data and spot any suspicious moves.

Nagastra-1

Man-portable suicide drones, called Nagastra-1⁷, these drones are engineered to accurately strike enemy training camps, launch pads, and infiltrators, thus minimising risk to soldiers. Developed entirely in India, the drones are over 75% indigenous, thanks to the efforts of Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries. In modern wars, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and the skirmishes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, these kinds of techniques are frequently employed.

Strengthening India-U.S. Defence Alliance for Atamnirbhar Bharat

In the area of defence, strengthening the defence alliance between the United States and India is essential to realising India’s dream of an Atamnirbhar Bharat. The transfer of vital American technologies has the potential to significantly alter the current modernisation process in the specialised fields of cyber, space, and hybrid warfare. To help the domestic defence industries grow, the United States has contributed new ideas, funding, and best practices. India’s position in the Indo-Pacific has been reinforced by U.S. backing through the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) and the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which aims to fight China and increase defence production.

India is moving in the correct route by decreasing its purchases from Russia, placing recent drone orders with the US, and increasing the production of armaments by updating basic designs. Certain U.S. officials have expressed their hope that India may eventually displace Russia as the nation that supplies conventional military hardware to nations unable to purchase American weaponry.

MQ-9B

The acquisition of 31 MQ-9B⁸ Sea Guardian drones by India is a noteworthy development in the nation’s defence capability. The drones have smart bombs and Hellfire missiles on them, and they are outfitted with cutting-edge technology for high-altitude, long-duration operations. In addition to supporting India’s modernisation initiatives, this action will greatly increase its capacity for unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance. Often referred to as the “Most Dangerous Military Drone on the Planet,” the MQ-9B Sea Guardian pushes the boundaries of new technology. Equipped with smart bombs and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, this fighter-sized drone can fly for an impressive 40 hours at heights higher than 40,000 feet.

Its primary purpose is to conduct over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assignments. The planned transaction is in perfect harmony with India’s resolve to update its armed forces. The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its land boundaries with China and Pakistan will benefit greatly from the increased capacity for unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance missions that these armed UAVs will provide.

Advanced Military Technologies: Robotic Canines, Accident Prevention Systems, and Surveillance Mechanisms

MULES

The first wave of robotic⁹ canines-shaped MULES (Multi-Utility Legged Equipment) will be used by the Indian Army soon. These machines will be used for light weight carrying and surveillance on steep and difficult terrain. These robotic canines can spy on people using the thermal cameras and other sensors they are fitted with. Additionally, they can be equipped with small guns and, in an emergency, combat an adversary without endangering human life. It can also be used to transport light loads for soldiers on the front lines. China has already equipped its armed forces with robotic dogs. The Chinese army debuted a gun-wielding robot dog in May of this year, marking the military’s technical experimentation with replacing people with machines.

Accident Prevention System (aps)

The “patent” for the AI-based¹⁰ “Accident Prevention System” has been granted to the Indian Army. The army developed an in-house system that will alert drivers who are falling asleep or feeling drowsy while driving, potentially saving lives. A noteworthy advancement in the immediate vicinity of India is the introduction of the “World’s First AI TV Talk Show” by Pakistan. By turning this channel into a weapon, the Pakistani army and the ISI will be able to better execute media warfare while also utilising fifth columnists to strike at India.

Israel’s Traffic-Light Surveillance System and the “Where is Daddy?” Mechanism

Israel is operating  on what has been compared to a traffic-light system since they are aware of the number of people there and use the colours red, yellow and green to indicate their presence. The high value of the target red clearly indicates that there are civilians present. A mechanism¹¹ called ‘Where is Daddy?‘ was created to find and apprehend alleged militants while they are with their family at home. Utilising technology from Corsight AI, a private Israeli business, the facial recognition programme is managed by Israel’s military intelligence organisation, which also includes the cyber-intelligence branch organisation known as ‘Unit 8200’.

According to three intelligence officers, Israel supplemented Corsight AI’s technology with Google Photos, a free photo sharing and storage service. Israeli cops might utilise the photo search feature of ‘Google Photos’ to identify individuals by uploading a database of known individuals to the platform. Google outperformed other technologies in face matching and identification, even when only a little fraction of a person’s face was visible. Because Corsight AI was adjustable, the military has stuck with it.

References

1. Role of AI in the Indian defence sector. (n.d.). INDIAai. https://indiaai.gov.in/article/role-of-ai-in-the-indian-defence-sector

2. Ibid

3. Indrajaal: India’s Drone Game-Changer In Building A Future-Proof Arsenal. (n.d.). https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2023/06/indrajaal-indias-drone-game-changer-in.html

4. SMASH Anti-Drone Weapon Sight. (n.d.). https://www.spslandforces.com/experts-speak/?h=SMASH-Anti-Drone-Weapon-Sight&id=938.

5. Philip, S. A., & Philip, S. A. (2020, December 8). Navy orders Israeli SMASH 2000 Plus systems to tackle drones, more contracts in offing. ThePrint. https://theprint.in/defence/navy-orders-israeli-smash-2000-plus-systems-to-tackle-drones-more-contracts-in-offing/562955/

6. Dighe, S. (2023, February 17). Army officer develops AI-based software. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/army-officer-develops-ai-based-software/articleshow/97995723.cms

7. Kumar, A. (2024, June 14). Indian Army gets first indigenous suicide drones with reusable technology. www.business-standard.com. https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/indian-army-gets-first-indigenous-suicide-drones-with-reusable-technology-124061400184_1.html

8. Online, E. (2024, February 2). Next-Gen Defence: India’s military strategy transformed with approval of $3.99 billion MQ-9B Sea Guardian. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/next-gen-defence-indias-military-strategy-transformed-with-approval-of-3-99-billion-mq-9b-sea-guardian-sale/articleshow/107362728.cms

9. Army Set To Induct Its Newest “Robo-Dog” Soldiers Soon That Can Fire, Surveil & Carry Load. (n.d.). https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2024/06/robo-dogs-that-can-fire-surveil-carry.html

10. AI and Humanoid Robots. (n.d.). https://www.spslandforces.com/experts-speak/?id=1031&h=AI-and-Humanoid-Robots

11. AI in Israel’s war on Gaza. (2024, May 9). Access Now. https://www.accessnow.org/publication/artificial-genocidal-intelligence-israel-gaza/

Acknowledgements

Phadke Journal of Strategic Studies sincerely thanks anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Additional Information

Publisher’s Note: Phadke Journal of Strategic Studies (PJSS) remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Images may be subjected to copyright. Image Credit – Defence XP.

About the Author

Suraj’s academic pursuits have been complemented by hands-on experience through internships and research roles at prestigious organisations such as the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping, the Centre for National Security Studies and the United Service Institution of India. These experiences have provided him with a solid grounding in various geopolitical issues, ranging from peacekeeping operations and defence modernisation to emerging technologies in warfare.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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