‘No force can survive without utilizing AI’: CDS Subramani on why commanders must retain final say in modern warfare
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani told the Defence Tech Summit that artificial intelligence, resilient networks and integrated systems will dominate future warfare. He said militaries are shifting from isolated platforms to a “system‑of‑systems” that fuses capabilities across land, sea, air, space and cyber to produce effects faster than an adversary can comprehend. Subramani emphasized near‑real‑time data sharing and reliable communications that can survive electronic contestation, citing space‑based, optical‑fiber, Wi‑Fi, radio and software‑defined‑radio links. He warned that protecting sensors, compute and data from poisoning is essential. While AI will be indispensable, he insisted commanders must retain final decision authority, with safeguards and both central and edge‑deployed AI to operate even when links are denied for operational continuity today.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By insisting AI augment rather than replace human judgment, India is forging a doctrine that couples technological edge with command accountability, influencing how militaries worldwide embed autonomy in contested environments.