Operation Sindoor and AI Utilization by Indian Army
The Indian Army extensively used home-grown military software applications and artificial intelligence (AI) tools during Operation Sindoor to enhance decision-making and battlefield awareness. These capabilities are set to be further enhanced with a military-specific large language model (LLM) expected to be functional within six months.
Development and Deployment
- The AI tools are indigenously developed, trained using Army-provided data, and are meant for deployment along all of India's borders.
- A common operational, intelligence, and logistics picture was created using around 23 applications, requiring real-time data processing.
- AI facilitated multi-sensor and multi-source data fusion, aiding threat assessment, intelligence analysis, and battlefield situation reviews.
Specific AI Applications
- Heat maps were generated to support resource prioritization during the conflict with Pakistan from May 7–10.
- A precision targeting app, developed with the India Meteorological Department, provided 72-hour forecasts for precision artillery engagement.
- The SANJAY Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) enabled "edge AI" for local decision-making on the battlefield.
- An electronic intelligence collation application achieved over 90% accuracy in tracking adversary sensors and frequencies, trained with 26 years of data.
Human-in-the-Loop and Ethical Considerations
The operation maintained a "human-in-the-loop" approach, ensuring human involvement in AI-enabled decision-making for ethical governance. AI tools function autonomously but are supervised by humans.
Ongoing AI Initiatives
- "AI as a service" is being introduced across the Army, ensuring military personnel have access to tools equivalent to civilian smart device applications.
- The "Jigyasa" military Generative AI ensures independence from commercial AI models within the Army.
AI Development and National Alignment
The Indian Army is focused on building AI capabilities without targeting specific countries, aligning with the IndiaAI mission approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024, with a budget of ₹10,371.92 crore.