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AI startup Sarvam has signed a five-year deal with the defence ministry to develop and deploy artificial intelligence applications for the armed forces.
What does the deal cover: Sarvam will build AI tools to support military operations, training and decision-making, and provide technical support for these projects.
The work will cover the Army, Navy and Air Force, with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) coordinating efforts.
The proposed tools could help the forces identify targets, combine information from different sensors and make sense of it faster.
The agreement will also give the three services and joint organisations access to a shared set of AI technologies. These include models that power AI applications, systems that carry out tasks, and tools that analyse maps and visual information. This could help the forces share what they learn and build on each other’s work.
The partnership is part of the government’s broader push to develop defence technology in India and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
According to Inc42’s estimates, India’s defence AI market is projected to grow from $0.7 billion in 2025 to $2.5 billion by 2030.
Why does defence need AI: armed forces collect huge amounts of information from drones, satellites and ground sensors. AI can analyse this data quickly, helping personnel spot threats and understand what is happening on the ground.
It can also help detect cyberattacks and unusual network activity. In electronic warfare, it can help communication systems respond to interference.
India has already initiated more than 75 AI projects across its armed forces and defence organisations.
