India plans AI integration for military operations by 2026

At the DEFCON 2026 forum in New Delhi, Indian defence officials discussed the integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems into the nation's military strategy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that India is developing indigenous AI-based technologies to enhance threat prediction, early warning systems, and decision-making processes.

Lieutenant General Puneet Ahuja noted that AI is expected to augment rather than replace soldiers, focusing on applications such as target acquisition, surveillance, logistics, predictive maintenance, and cyber defence. The discussions highlighted a shift toward human-machine teaming, where soldiers operate unmanned systems and require expertise in drones, cyber, space, and electronic operations.