Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.
Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism.
Context
Indian military and defense organizations consider emerging technologies crucial, including artificial intelligence and cyber technology.
Introduction
Emerging technologies refers to innovative advancements or developments that have the potential to significantly change the way we live and work. These technologies, stemming from cutting-edge research, possess the potential to bring about significant changes in our daily lives and professional environments. They arise from the forefront of research, presenting new and exciting opportunities for industries, economies, and societies.
Steps taken to use emerging technologies in Indian defence sector:
- Chanakya Defence Dialogue (2023): The dialogue, held in 2023, acts as a platform to bolster national and regional security by addressing contemporary issues, notably the impact of emerging technologies.
- Integrated Unmanned Roadmap – Navy’s Initiative: A comprehensive plan, focusing on standardization, interoperability, and jointness, guides the development and deployment of unmanned systems in the Indian Navy.
- Project Swavlamban – Atmanirbhar Defence Initiative: An initiative, Project Swavlamban, promotes self-reliance in the defence sector by encouraging the indigenization of defence equipment and technology.
- AIDef Symposium (2022): A symposium held in 2022, AIDef showcased cutting-edge AI-enabled solutions from various sectors, fostering the integration of artificial intelligence in defence through entities like the Defence AI Council and Defence AI Project Agency.
- Defence Cyber Agency (Established 2018): Launched in 2018, the Defence Cyber Agency addresses cybersecurity threats and contributes to the development of a comprehensive cyber warfare doctrine.
- Defence Space Agency: Responsible for managing India’s space warfare and satellite intelligence assets, the Defence Space Agency plays a pivotal role in the integration of space capabilities into the defence sector.
- UDAAN: The Indian Air Force employs AI, cyber, and virtual reality within the ‘UDAAN’ initiative to meet operational, logistical, and training requirements.
- Advancements in Military Communication: The launches of GSAT-7 and GSAT-7A underscore improvements in military communication capabilities achieved through satellite technology.
Challenges in Harnessing Emerging Technologies in India’s Defence Sector:
- Financial Constraints: Inadequate defense spending at approximately 2.1% of GDP hinders meeting armed forces and defense industry requirements.
- Innovation Deficiency: Insufficient investment in research and development for emerging technologies compared to global leaders poses a challenge.
- Governance Issues: Delays, corruption, and bureaucratic hurdles plague India’s defense acquisition and procurement system.
- Obsolescence Challenges: Inability to keep pace with the dynamic nature of emerging technologies hampers the system, necessitating constant innovation and upgrades.
- Skill Shortage: Brain drain to foreign countries and industries results in a scarcity of skilled personnel for emerging technologies.
- Operational Inefficiency: Lack of interoperability and collaboration among India’s armed forces and with the civilian sector impedes the effective integration of emerging technologies.
- Coordination and Collaboration Deficiency: Ineffective utilization of emerging technologies due to a lack of seamless coordination and collaboration across domains and platforms.
- Standardization Deficit: Absence of a clear strategic vision and doctrine for using emerging technologies in defense, with undefined objectives, priorities, and principles.
- Rules of Engagement Ambiguity: Lack of defined thresholds, norms, and rules of engagement for deploying emerging technologies in conflict scenarios adds to the challenges.
Way forward:
- Fostering Collaboration: India must promote jointness and interoperability within its defense forces and with the civilian sector to effectively harness emerging technologies.
- Transparency Reforms: Reforming the defense acquisition and procurement system is crucial for enhancing agility, transparency, and efficiency.
- Human Resource Transformation: To attract and retain talent, India needs to enhance its education system, providing more opportunities for training and learning.
- Doctrinal Clarity: Articulating a clear and coherent strategic vision and doctrine is essential for the effective use of emerging technologies in defense.
- Investment in Research and Development: Allocating more resources, especially in emerging technologies, is necessary for developing indigenous and cutting-edge capabilities.
- Private Sector Engagement: Openness to technocrats from the private sector is recommended, fostering innovation and expertise infusion for defense advancements.
- Innovation Ecosystem Creation: Creating an innovation ecosystem that encourages collaboration between defense and civilian talent is vital for comprehensive technological advancements.
Conclusion
Achieving the full potential of emerging technologies in the military landscape demands a comprehensive strategy, including a strategic vision, organizational flexibility, collaborative partnerships, and the infusion of talent.
Source: The Hindu
Practice Question
In response to the demands of modern warfare, the modernization of defense forces, incorporating emerging technologies, is essential. Considering this, explore the different challenges and propose necessary reforms to attain the intended results. (Answer in 250 words)