Army says AI played major role in Operation Sindoor, core functions now being integrated

AI tools also played a crucial role in precision targeting during Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Sahni said

The Indian Army used artificial intelligence (AI) tools in a big way during Operation Sindoor -- initiated in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack – to accelerate decision-making and strengthen battlefield awareness.

Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni, who is serving as director general of electronics and mechanical engineers (DG EME), on Monday said that 23 in-house applications with specific tasks were leveraged to deal with data and inputs.

“During Operation Sindoor, there were 23 applications that were used to deal with data and inputs. Commanders were getting an integrated picture with, of course, the use of AI that was used for data fusion,” Sahni was quoted as saying in a CNN-News18 report.

Sahni further explained that these apps had specific tasks and were accessed on a need-to-know basis by commanders and other officers as per their roles.

“In such a scenario, where commanders are operating elsewhere, the threat assessment, internal analysis, multi-sensor data fusion, and multi-source code data fusion -- all this was happening with the help of AI. We were actually generating some kind of heat maps in the joint operational control centre to understand what kind of activity was happening. We could then prioritise activities and enable precise targeting," he said.

AI tools also played a crucial role in precision targeting during Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Sahni said, highlighting an app developed jointly by the Army’s Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS) and the India Meteorological Department. The app provided 72-hour weather forecasts, including data for regions deep inside enemy territory.

Sahni also pointed towards the military’s comprehensive approach to AI development, aligning with the ‘India AI Mission’.

Recognising views about other nations’ AI progress, he asserted that the Indian Army is not lagging behind — it is focused on safeguarding national security and continuously strengthening its indigenous AI ecosystem.

The Army is developing an indigenous unified AI platform that will integrate operational, intelligence, logistics, and training applications on a single secure framework, said Sahni.

He also stated that the adoption of AI is being carried out in a structured and cautious manner. The focus areas include prioritising AI in domains where it reduces risk to personnel, improves decision-making, and strengthens resilience, Sahni said.

An Electronic Intelligence Collation and Analysis System (ECAS) is a key initiative that will identify and prioritise critical threats, helping achieve strategic dominance, he said.

Trinetra is another application that provides for a common operational picture for better coordination, situational awareness, and decision superiority, Sahni added.

Sahni also listed the Predictive Threat Modelling Using AI framework as another tool that has been useful to the commanders.

The senior officer said the ongoing consolidation of AI into the core functions of the 11.5-lakh strong Army, as part of the modification drive, is set to bring greater speed, precision and lethality to combat operations, Times of India reported.

By embracing automation, digitisation, and AI responsibly, the Army aims to maintain its operational edge, strengthen national security, and contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat, he added.

(With inputs from agency)