Col Anurag Awasthi addressed the symposium in his opening address at the First ‘CHAKRAVIEW’ event- ‘The Algorithmic Battlefield’ at the United Services Institution, New Delhi. His address focused upon how Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming the defining element in the conduct of modern warfare. It is being integrated in collecting intelligence, planning operations, securing networks, sustaining logistics in order to make battlefield decisions. Yet, there is one fundamental truth which must not be overlooked- Wars would not be won by Artificial Intelligence alone. He says key lies in combining these emerging technologies with institutions, doctrine, talent, investment and trust.

Col Awasthi mentions that, at present, AI does already influence every military function. It compresses decision timelines, improves situational awareness and enables commanders to process vast quantities of information at unprecedented speed. Project Maven, which is the U.S. Department of Defense’s flagship artificial intelligence program, has demonstrated how machine learning can transform intelligence sharing, co-ordination and analysis, which would otherwise take days or weeks to understand.

This is where algorithms play an important role. They analyse data, identify trends and support decision making. However, they depend on the ecosystem supporting them for their effective functioning. The technology needs to be combined cleverly with sustained investment, operational doctrine and smooth execution.

The biggest challenge, perhaps for today’s defence establishments, is to bridge the gap between scale & expertise. The armed forces possess operational scale, infrastructure and mission requirements, whereas the industry possesses innovation, specialised talent and technological agility. Neither of them can succeed if worked independently. Today’s times demand a much closer, deeper functional relationship between the state and the private sector, in which both the military and industry synchronise their respective capabilities.

Col Awasthi said, “Data is the mother of All AI”. At the centre of this transformation, is the most important resource- Data. It is the foundation upon which every AI system is built. Without high quality, reliable and relevant datasets, even the most sophisticated algorithms become ineffective. For countries seeking strategic autonomy, dependence on foreign datasets presents a particular point of challenge.

He said, “For countries seeking strategic autonomy, digital autonomy is indispensable”. Indigenous military datasets are therefore, not merely a technological requirement, but a strategic necessity. AI used for defence which is trained on external data risks operational biases and vulnerabilities. Building secure, sovereign datasets must become a national priority if AI is to support genuinely independent military decision making.

As per Col Awasthi, collecting data alone is insufficient. Military organisations must also build trust in AI-enabled systems. Commanders, while decision-making, cannot depend exclusively on automated recommendations. Systems must remain resilient even when communications are degraded, electromagnetic interference is widespread or cyber-attacks disrupt normal operations. Human judgement, supported by trusted AI rather than replaced by it, will remain central to military effectiveness.

Procurement systems also need to evolve simultaneously. Traditionally, defence acquisition models were designed around platforms with development cycles measured in decades. Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a rapid rate. Applying conventional procurement timelines to rapidly advancing digital technologies risks making capabilities obsolete before they are fielded. He said that high technology requires faster, more flexible acquisition mechanisms that can adapt to continuous innovation without compromising accountability or operational standards.

Finally, the address mentioned that the battlefield will be connected by an invisible thread linking sensors, decision makers and shooters into an integrated network, which just does not focus on technological superiority, but enabling decision makers to make quick, better informed and more resilient than an adversary.

Col Awasthi mentioned that Chakra News would organise more such discourse in the future, connecting various stakeholders, bridging the gap between the armed forces and the industry. 

Chakra Desk

Chakra News is a specialised digital media platform committed to in-depth coverage of India’s defence, national security, geopolitics, and critical technologies.