India's Defence Ministry Partners with AI Mission to Develop Secure Military AI Layer

Key facts

• The Ministry of Defence is working with the AI Mission to develop a dedicated military AI layer providing secure domestic computing infrastructure for decision-making support, target acquisition and data fusion, leading to a sensor-to-shooter loop, Defence Secretary RK Singh said on October 23, 2026.
• Compute for the military AI layer has already been procured, and the Ministry intends to piggyback on private industries already selected by the AI Mission.
• Singh stressed self-reliance in critical capability domains, as foreign companies may withhold technology or introduce vulnerabilities such as backdoors or kill switches, though partnerships with friendly countries were not ruled out.
• The blueprint for theatreisation of commands into integrated theatre commands is ready and awaiting approval at the highest level, amid reservations from outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
• India has become the third-largest exporter of arms to Europe over the past year, driven mainly by artillery shells including 155-mm rounds supplied under the ReArm Europe initiative.
• Indian defence exports also include bulletproof jackets, helmets, small arms, avionics, armoured platforms, artillery gun systems, Dornier aircraft, and BrahMos missiles, with Southeast Asian buyers signing contracts or in negotiations.
• India's first security and defence partnership with the European Union was signed alongside the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
• Singh said Greece and Cyprus could serve as gateways for Indian companies to participate in ReArm Europe programmes, while European firms entering India must meet Make in India requirements of at least 50 per cent localisation.