India is preparing a major upgrade of its air defence system with the Indian Air Force (IAF) planning to modernise its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) into an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native platform.

The move is aimed at improving real-time surveillance, faster threat assessment and automated operational coordination across the country’s air defence network.

The upgraded system is expected to strengthen India’s military preparedness amid rising regional security challenges and rapid changes in warfare technology.

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The IACCS serves as the backbone of India’s air defence operations. It integrates radar stations, missile systems, surveillance assets and communication networks into a unified command structure. The planned ‘AI Air Defence system’ upgrade will introduce AI-led data processing and advanced automation to help the system analyse large volumes of battlefield information more efficiently.

Officials familiar with the development said the modernisation is intended to improve response speed against aerial threats, including drones, missiles and hostile aircraft. The AI-native architecture is also expected to support predictive threat analysis and improve decision-making during complex military situations.

The upgrade is part of India’s broader push to include emerging technologies in defence operations.

In recent years, the government has increased its focus on AI, autonomous systems and indigenous defence technology development as part of its military modernisation plans.

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The project depends on domestic defence and technology firms, aligning with the government’s efforts to build self-reliance in important key infrastructure.

Defence experts believe AI-enabled air defence systems will play a central role in future warfare, where response time and integrated situational awareness are becoming increasingly important.

The IAF’s move comes as several global military powers accelerate investments in AI-driven defence systems and network-centric warfare platforms. India has also been expanding its defence digitalisation efforts through advanced surveillance systems, integrated command networks and smart battlefield technologies.

National security experts say the AI-native IACCS upgrade could significantly improve coordination between multiple defence platforms. It can potentially reduce operational delays during high-risk situations.

The development is also seen as part of India’s long-term strategy to strengthen border security and airspace monitoring capabilities.