India recently concluded its anti-terror strikes over 9 terrorist bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other parts of mainland Pakistan through its military operations named Operation SINDOOR. As the operations escalated, India made significant use of AI-based systems built into its air defense system to protect its people and territory from the enemy assailants. The operation stands exceptional as it showcased seamless integration of indigenous high-tech systems, especially AI, into India’s national defense during Operation SINDOOR. 

It stands as a milestone in calibrated military responses against the enemy attacks on India. From drone warfare and layered air defense to electronic warfare, Operation SINDOOR represents a defining milestone in the nation's pursuit of technological self-reliance in military operations.

India’s AI-Powered Akashteer 

Akashteer, India’s next-generation Air Defense Ecosystem, has emerged as the real game-changer. This fully AI-powered, autonomous system has demonstrated real-time target interception and effective engagement in drone warfare. Its strength lies not in brute force, but in the power of intelligent, adaptive warfare.

Unlike traditional air defense models—dependent on ground-based radars, human monitoring, and command-triggered surface-to-air missile batteries—Akashteer breaks the mold. Its advanced technology enables continuous monitoring of low-level airspace in combat zones and precise, autonomous control of ground-based air defense weapon systems.

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AI Integrated Air Command and Control Systems 

“From detecting a radar picture of an enemy object in the sky to taking a strategic position to shoot it down from land, sea, and air was demonstrated using AI cloud-based state-of-the-art integrated air command and control systems,” a defense source told the Indian Express. 

The Indian Armed Forces deployed AI-powered, cloud-based Integrated Air Command and Control Systems to detect and track hostile aerial objects with precision. However, the groundwork for these was laid more than half a decade ago, when the armed forces began to consider utilizing AI in their defensive and offensive capabilities.

Activity Recognition and Classification

As a result of half a decade-long efforts, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been able to develop an AI-driven system capable of recognizing and classifying enemy aircraft activity, enabling automatic identification of hostile aerial plans and enhancing situational awareness. This advanced solution is expected to be integrated into India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). 

It has also been instrumental in developing the IACCS itself, which consolidates data from all air defense assets to provide the Indian Air Force with a unified operational picture, ensuring swift and effective responses to diverse aerial threats.

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Other AI-based Innovations 

Other AI-powered military innovations include the Intercept Management System (IMS) to analyze and automate intercepts of an adversary and the Air Defence Control and Reporting System (ADC & RS), which is used to detect all aerial targets and neutralize the threat well away from vulnerable areas, among others.