Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Army in May 2025 was a watershed event in contemporary military history with unprecedented harnessing of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies. It’s success rate of 94% to spot and target Pakistani military posts inflicting terror on our land/ troops transformed the war fighting strategic environment and dynamics from “Arms-length” dominance/ standoff weapons delivery platform(=no boots in desert terrain for converted pilots) into totally point-preference precision strike mechanism.
Underlying this stunning achievement is the Indian Army’s coordination of a wide range of AI-enabled applications and platforms to fuse and interpret massive streams of data from numerous sensors, weapons systems and intelligence sources that seek to provide real-time combat formations. Speaking to India TV, Lt. General Rajiv Kumar Sahni who was the Director General of Information Systems during operation Sindoor said the forces used AI algorithms on data collected since 26 years from historical battlefields to develop accurate operational views and threat assessments. This strong data-fusion capability enabled the compilation of a Common Operating Picture – an effectively representation of the battlefield, providing commanders a near-real-time map of enemy positions to help easily and quickly make decisions.
The hack revealed an impressive level of agility to rapidly adapt existing software applications. It is worth mentioning that during the operation, a system developed by various Indian intelligence agencies Electronic Intelligence Collation and Analysis System (ECAS) was ‘customized’ in real time to suit the unique needs of different participating groups. This system was the very key to finding as well as marking enemy sensors with more than 90 percent accuracy, a capability essential in neutralizing enemy surveillance and electronic warfare systems.
AI’s place also went still further when it came to meteorology. The Army has already operationalized indigenously-developed AI-based Meteorological Reporting System in partnership with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for military operations, which provides 72-hour forecast that is crucial for targeted artillery fire and long-range strike elements. Those advanced weather predictions improved the accuracy of long-range strikes by factoring in environmental conditions that normally mitigate targeting effectiveness in traditional combat.
The same was further enhanced by induction of the SANJAY battlefield surveillance system (BSS) on our western borders. This AI-driven system is designed to provide “edge AI” functions, which means that data processing (including image recognition and decision-making) could be performed on the battlefield rather than somewhere else so as to achieve a faster response time, better decisions made, and more resistance to e-attacking or the disruption of network connection.
It was also widely reported that the Indian Army used a set of 23 AI tools for battlefield operations codenamed Operation Sindoor – which ranged from multi-sensor data fusion, threat prediction, intelligence-analysis-based alerting solutions to battle-space visualisation and resource prioritisation. These apps made possible to maintain continues overview of the status of battlefield, created heat maps and predictive models that gave commanders operational and tactical advantages.
An important point made by Lt Gen Sahni was the “human-in-the-loop” approach allowing active human supervision over AI-based decision making in order to ensure ethical and accountability issues are not compromised. Although AI made entirely self-taught analysis and suggestions possible, last say remained with human beings so there is responsibility and moral governance in military operations.
India’s dedication to leverage AI for defense is also evident in the opening of an AI Research and Incubation Centre in Bengaluru in late 2024. This centre fast-tracks AI project development by enabling partnerships and co-creation opportunities with DRDO, academia, industry and startups within an open innovation culture to develop a joint robust integrated AI military platform for application in the air, naval land system as well as cyber space. This base is expected to facilitate AI implementation ensuring that wartime operational readiness is almost instantaneous and ensures unity of effort in the Indian Army, which is seven times larger directive strength than the military.
In the future, the Indian military will implement more autonomous systems capable of AI applications in operations like UAV or UGV that would contribute significantly to enhancing combat effectiveness and reducing personnel risk. The use of AI in logistics, surveillance, autonomous weapon systems and data processing is turning Indian Defence Forces into a modern, agile and lethal military power in view of the complex future warfare environment.
Summary In short, Operation Sindoor is a stellar illustration of how India has been able to seamlessly blend ground-breaking AI and military strategy. The 94% precision rate in targeting and attack of the operation is indicative of AI’s game-changing power to improve situational awareness on, pertinence for kinetic activities and strategic advantage. India’s ongoing focus on homegrown AI innovation leaves this ancient nation well-poised to lead the world in tomorrow’s military technology, as it confronts new security challenges with agility, precision and ethical foresight. This is a moment that underscores how technology, underpinned by decades of data and the push for modernisation, is reshaping defence equations not just for India but across the world — shifting warfare into an era where algorithms and real-time data fusion will be key to victory.