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AI in Defence: Applications & Associated Concerns

  • Recently, President Droupadi Murmu highlighted India’s focus on harnessing emerging technologies, such as AI, to bolster defence capabilities. She emphasised the nation’s commitment to indigenisation, innovation, and strategic foresight in adapting to the evolving nature of warfare, including hybrid and psychological operations.

About AI in Defence

  • AI enhances operational efficiency through intelligence, surveillance, navigation, and Command and Control (C2), enabling faster decision-making and real-time battlefield responses.
  • In offensive functions, AI improves precision in target selection, autonomous drone swarms, and AI-driven cyber-attacks, boosting the speed and accuracy of military operations.
  • AI analyses cyber-attack patterns, helping develop strategies to protect against evolving cyber threats, making it an essential tool for modern defence.

Applications of AI in Defence

  • AI-powered Autonomous Systems: AI enables precision-guided munitions and drones to execute attacks with minimal human intervention, such as Russia’s Uran-9 combat robot & Israel’s Harpy loitering.
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): AI-powered UAVs enhance reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical strikes, exemplified by India’s Rustom-2 drone and the USA’s MQ-9 Reaper.
  • Battlefield Management Systems (BMS): AI enhances situational awareness and real-time decision-making in combat scenarios, as seen in India’s BMS project under Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
  • AI-driven Intelligence Analysis: AI-powered predictive analytics and deep learning models assist in threat detection, such as Project Maven by the Pentagon for analysing battlefield imagery.
  • AI for Threat Detection in Cybersecurity: Machine learning algorithms identify cyber threats in real-time, as demonstrated by Darktrace AI for cyber defence.
  • AI-generated Malware: Self-evolving AI-driven cyberattacks adapt to security protocols, such as the Black Mamba malware and AI-generated phishing campaigns.
  • AI-driven Predictive Maintenance: AI predicts failures in defence equipment to reduce downtime, like predictive analytics for the Sukhoi-30 MKI fleet in the Indian Air Force.
  • Automated Resource Allocation in Military Logistics: AI optimises military supply chains and logistics, as seen in DARPA’s LogX program for logistics optimisation.
  • Deepfake-based Propaganda: AI-generated deepfake videos are used for psychological warfare, as seen in Russia’s AI-driven misinformation campaigns.
  • AI-driven Social Media Manipulation: AI bots influence narratives and cause societal unrest, such as China’s AI-backed influence operations on platforms like Twitter and Telegram.

Challenges in Using AI in Defence

  • Threat from Non-State Actors: Terrorists and criminals can exploit AI for cyber-attacks, autonomous weapons, and misinformation. For example, the Islamic State’s guide on using generative AI for attacks.
  • Cybersecurity Risks: AI-generated malware can evade detection systems, enabling advanced cyber warfare. E.g., Black Mamba malware bypassing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
  • Social Engineering & Misinformation: AI can manipulate social media algorithms, leading to radicalization and destabilization. E.g., AI-generated neo-Nazi content shared on platforms like Telegram.
  • Surveillance & Privacy Violations: AI-powered surveillance can infringe on privacy rights and violate human rights. E.g., China’s facial recognition systems are used to track Uyghur Muslims.
  • Lack of Global Regulation: There is no comprehensive international law regulating AI’s use in warfare, raising ethical and legal concerns.
  • Ethical Dilemmas: AI systems may misidentify targets, lack proportionality in warfare, act unpredictably, and dehumanise warfare, increasing tolerance for collateral damage.

India’s Initiatives to Promote AI in Defence Sector

  1. AI Roadmap and Council: In 2018, NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Defence developed an AI integration roadmap. The Defence Artificial Intelligence Council (DAIC) guides AI projects in the sector.
  2. Defence AI Project Agency: Launched with an annual budget of ₹100 crores, the agency, following the Chandrasekaran Committee’s recommendations, supports AI development in defence.
  3. Defence India Startup Challenge: Funded under the iDEX programme, it supports startups working on AI, autonomous systems, and secure communications for defence.
  4. AI in Training and Collaboration: The Army’s WARDEC centre uses AI for simulation-based training. India and the US also strengthened AI collaboration through the Defence AI Dialogue.
  5. AI Technologies: The Ministry launched 75 AI-driven technologies, including Agni-D for border security and surveillance.
  6. Research Institutions: DRDO operates labs like CAIR & DYSL to advance AI research for defence applications.
  7. Strategic Task Force: Chaired by C. Chandrasekaran, the task force laid the foundation for AI-based defence systems, leading to the creation of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Council (DAIC) and Defence Artificial Intelligence Project Agency (DAIPA).

Way Forward

  • AI Collaborations: India should partner with the domestic tech sector, like the US and China, to boost AI capabilities in defence.
  • Cyber Defence & Offense: Developing offensive and defensive cyber capabilities is crucial to counter emerging cyber threats.
  • Global Legal Framework: International law must define the limits on AI use in warfare, including target types and operational contexts.
  • AI Arms Control: Countries should establish an arms control regime for AI weapon systems to ensure responsible use.
  • Responsible AI Use: Multilateral efforts should create principles for the ethical military use of AI, adhering to humanitarian law and ethical standards.

Reference: The Hindu

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 52

Q. The use of AI in defence improves efficiency but poses risks like cyber threats and autonomy in warfare. Discuss its applications, challenges, and India’s initiatives for responsible AI integration. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

  • Introduction: Briefly introduce the answer by highlighting the AI in defence and its integration.
  • Body: In the body, discuss the application and challenges of AI in defence and also highlight India’s initiatives for its responsible integration.
  • Conclusion: Write a way forward & conclude by highlighting the need for AI in defence in today’s warfare.

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