MoD study on AI-powered weapons highlights gap between India’s aspirations and capabilities

Pilot study on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) highlights transformative potential, control challenges, and ethical concerns in India.

A pilot study on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) commissioned by the Defence Ministry highlights the transformative potential of these technologies while raising important questions about control, accountability, and ethical deployment, according to a senior Ministry official. These autonomous weapons, which can be fired without human intervention, are powered by artificial intelligence or AI.

A key challenge identified in the study is “the gap between our aspirations and the current capabilities of our defence base.” The study was conducted in collaboration with the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MPIDSA).

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India is alert to the opportunities and challenges from this fast-evolving technology scenario and its ubiquitous nature, said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He noted that the region has a history of armed conflict and cross-border terrorism, with two nuclear-armed neighbours. One of them is China, which is a permanent member (P-5) of the UN Security Council and a front-runner in AI development. “Because of serious security threats, India is pushing for defence,” he said.

“For India’s defence establishment, developing AI capabilities is critical for three key reasons: to maintain strategic autonomy in an era where technological superiority dictates military advantage; to play a meaningful role in shaping the international regulatory framework; and finally to prepare our forces for future conflicts involving such systems,” said Samir Kumar Sinha, an Additional Secretary in the Defence Ministry and the Director-General for Acquisition. The study is meant to address these priorities, he said, addressing a seminar at MPIDSA on ‘India’s approaches to AI in military domain and emerging tech in LAWS’, which was jointly organised by the Defence Ministry and the MEA from January 28 to 30.

Indian defence manufacturers, both public and private, are in the early states of incorporating AI into military platforms, Mr. Sinha observed, pointing to the complexity of autonomous systems and international export controls on AI components, which present significant challenges. Developing sovereign capabilities in critical technologies is a pressing need, he stressed. “AI integration in the military domain must adhere to clear norms and principles to minimise risks and maximise opportunities,” he added.

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