On July 11, 2022, the Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched 75 newly-developed defence products powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies during the first-ever “Artificial Intelligence in Defence” (AIDef) Symposium and Exhibition 2022, organized by the Department of Defence Production, MoD, in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The products were introduced as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” a celebration of India’s 75th anniversary of Independence, and to advance the “Aatmanirbharta” initiative in the defence sector.
Due to their dual-purpose applications, the products would create new business prospects and showcase India as a global hub for AI.
Dignitaries
Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State (MoS), MoD; Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff; General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff; Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff; Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development & Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO); other senior civil and military officials of the MoD; envoys of foreign countries, representatives of research institutes, academia and the industry as well as students.
Various Domains of the Launched 75 Products
The domains include AI Platform Automation; Autonomous/Unmanned/Robotics systems; Block Chain-based Automation; Command, Control, Communication, Computer & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance(C4ISR) systems; Cyber Security; Human Behavioural Analysis; Intelligent Monitoring Systems; Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems; Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Operational Data Analytics; Manufacturing and Maintenance; Simulators/Test Equipment and speech/voice analysis using Natural Language Processing.
Three AI products developed by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have dual-use applications and good market potential, namely
- AI-enabled Voice Transcription or Analysis software developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Driver Fatigue Monitoring System developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited
- AI-enabled evaluation of Welding defects in X-rays of Non-destructive Testing developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
These products are anticipated to give the DPSUs access to new markets. Apart from the 75 products that have been launched, another 100 are in various stages of development.
Release of Physical & E-Version of A Book About The 75 Products
Rajnath Singh also unveiled the physical and e-version of the book containing information on these 75 products, showcasing the combined efforts made in the last four years by the Services, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) start-ups, DPSUs, DRDO, and the private sector in the field of AI.
Scope of AI in Defence Sector
i.With the use of AI applications, new autonomous weapons/systems have been created, capable of destroying enemy installations without human control.
ii.AI-enabled military systems can efficiently handle massive volumes of data. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies will also be employed in the future.
iii. The MoD, Armed Forces, DRDO, DPSUs, and industry take significant effort to create cutting-edge technology and offer innovative and indigenous AI solutions for defence.
iv.India has begun to incorporate AI applications into remote piloted, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and other systems.
v.In 2018, a task force was established for the strategic integration of AI in defence, and its recommendations were implemented by the Defence AI Council, which is led by the Union Defence Minister.
‘Raksha Niryat Ratna’ Awards 2020-21
In accordance with the MoD’s objective of achieving Rs. 35,000 crore in defence exports by 2025 and boosting domestic industry, the ‘Raksha Niryat Ratna’ 2020-21 awards were given to the following firms,
- Public sector category – Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), aerospace and defence electronics company, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Private sector category – Indo-MIM, a leading global supplier of Metal Injection Molded (MIM) products, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
These firms were awarded for achieving the highest exports in the defence segment in India for 2020–21.
Other Felicitations:
i.Rajnath Singh has also felicitated the top three students in the ‘GenNext AI’ Solutions Competition, which was held to explore bright, innovative ideas for futuristic AI solutions.
ii.Three panel discussions were also organized to generate new ideas in the field of AI in Defence, with active involvement from the Services, academia, students, research organizations, and industry.
iii. An exhibition was also organized, providing a unique opportunity for innovators to showcase their capabilities, products, and cutting-edge technology.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Lucknow Constituency, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ajay Bhatt (Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar Constituency, Uttarakhand)
