The Indian Army has been actively testing and integrating advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones to simulate future warfare scenarios, particularly in high-altitude areas near the China border in the Himalayas. These simulations and exercises aim to enhance battlefield awareness, improve threat detection, and validate the integration of drones in tactical operations.
Integration of AI and Drones
The Indian Army is leveraging AI-infused autonomous systems, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), to reduce the burden on soldiers and extend operational reach in previously inaccessible areas. Drones are being utilized for various missions, such as intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics, precision strikes, and communication.
Exercise DIVYA DRISHTI
Exercise DIVYA DRISHTI, conducted in East Sikkim, involved testing AI technology to enhance battlefield awareness and improve threat detection. The exercise likely focused on utilizing AI to process and analyze data collected from various sensors and sources, providing real-time inputs and actionable intelligence to commanders.
Exercise Drone Prahar
The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise Drone Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh to validate the integration of drones into battlefield operations. This drill likely involved testing various drone capabilities, such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and offensive operations, in a simulated combat environment.
Him-Drone-A-Thon and HIMTECH
The Indian Army has also organized events like Him-Drone-A-Thon and HIMTECH to promote the development and deployment of drone technology for high-altitude operations. These events bring together drone manufacturers and military personnel to showcase and evaluate drone capabilities in challenging Himalayan terrain. The Drone-a-thon in Ladakh provided an overview of the capabilities of the Indian industry in terms of the various types and categories of drones available. Over 20 drone manufacturers showcased a spectrum of drone solutions designed for high-altitude applications, spanning across domains of surveillance, logistics, loitering munitions, swarm, and FPV (first-person view) operations.
Tri-Service Integration
The Indian armed forces are moving towards forming joint operational structures, integrating unmanned aerial vehicles, space resources, and advanced surveillance resources of all three services. Exercise Prachand Prahar, a tri-service integrated multi-domain exercise conducted in the Himalayas, showcased seamless integration of advanced surveillance and strike capabilities. The exercise involved the participation of the Indian Army's elite special forces in tandem with surveillance resources to create seamless domain awareness and detect simulated targets. It validated integrated planning, command and control, as well as seamless execution of surveillance and firepower platforms across the three services, covering the entire spectrum of conflict. The forces swiftly eliminated targets through synchronized joint firepower of fighter aircraft, long-range rocket systems, medium artillery, armed helicopters, swarm drones, loitering munitions, and kamikaze drones in an electronically contested environment.
Challenges and Future Warfare
The Indian Army operates in one of the most difficult terrains in the world, the high Himalayas, where both men and machine are restricted due to thin air, arctic-like weather conditions, and howling winds. The extreme cold, reduced oxygen levels, and rough terrain test both human endurance and equipment. The future of warfare, especially in high-altitude areas, lies in the strategic use of cutting-edge technology by using AI-infused autonomous systems like UAVs and UGVs.
