Need for Mastering Frontier Technologies in Defence

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, addressing officers at the Army War College (AWC), Mhow, highlighted the significance of mastering frontier technologies in today’s dynamic world.

What are Frontier technologies?

• Frontier technologies are cutting-edge, transformative innovations at the forefront of technological development. 
• They involve a high degree of innovation and are characterized by their ability to disrupt traditional processes, improve efficiency, and solve complex challenges.

Radical Changes in Warfare

• Unconventional Warfare: The shift from conventional to hybrid warfare integrates traditional and non-traditional tactics.
  • Unconventional strategies focus on asymmetric methods such as proxy wars and guerrilla operations.
• Information Warfare: It involves the use of misinformation, disinformation, and psychological tactics to manipulate public perception and decision-making.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Warfare: AI-based technologies enable autonomous weapons and predictive analytics for strategic decision-making.
• Electromagnetic and Space Warfare: It disrupts enemy communication and radar systems through electromagnetic pulses (EMPs).
  • Space warfare involves securing satellite infrastructure crucial for communication and surveillance.
• Cyber Attacks: It targets critical infrastructure such as defense, energy, and banking systems.

Role of Military Training Centers

• Skill Development in Frontier Technologies: Training soldiers in AI, robotics, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.
• Research and Development: Collaboration with defense research institutions to innovate cutting-edge technologies.
• Integrated Warfare Training: Cross-domain integration of land, sea, air, and space warfare strategies.

Government initiatives

• Government schemes such as iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and DTIS (Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme) to enable innovation within the Defence & Aerospace ecosystem.
• Technology Development Fund (TDF) aims to promote the development of indigenous technologies to meet the requirements of the armed forces.
  • It supports research and development (R&D) activities in areas critical to defense.
• Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) aims to foster collaboration between the government, private industry, and academia to boost innovation in defense technologies.

Challenges 

• Technological Lag as there is dependency on foreign technology due to insufficient indigenous development.
• Cyber Vulnerabilities: There is risk of cyber breaches in critical defense systems.
• Resource Constraints due to limited budget allocation for R&D and training in frontier technologies.

Way Ahead

• Global Collaborations: Engaging in technology-sharing agreements and joint training programs with allied nations will ensure that India has access to the latest military innovations and operational tactics.
• Ethical Use: A robust legal and governance framework is essential to ensure that the use of advanced technologies in warfare is both secure and ethical. 
• Indigenization of Technology: India needs to strengthen initiatives like ‘Make in India’ to foster domestic innovation and manufacturing capabilities.

Source: TOI