Is India’s Pursuit of Technological Autonomy Reshaping Modern Warfare?

In the high-stakes arena of modern warfare, the advent of autonomous weapon systems has sparked a complex dynamism in defense strategy. The Indian Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar’s recent introduction of the Drishti-10 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a case in point of the evolving landscape of South Asia.  

Drishti-10 UAV is designed to stay in the air for extended periods, likely used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and has autonomous capabilities, making India more self-reliant in defense technology. With claims of 70 percent indigenous content, the Drishti-10 UAV represents a technological advancement. Such UAV technologies are a gauntlet for the global security community. India’s arms partnerships with global defense companies, like Israel’s Elbit Systems, further enhance its capabilities. However, beneath these advancements lies a complex web of challenges and opportunities, as India’s exploration of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) holds risks to regional and global security.

The Indian Navy Chief underscored the importance of autonomous systems in modern warfare, stressing India’s role in leveraging expertise in this field. Drishti-10 UAV – equipped with cutting-edge sensors and advanced communication capabilities – is designed to augment Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Moreover, the Indian Army’s interest in procuring Drishti-10 UAVs highlights Hyderabad’s emergence as a defense and aerospace manufacturing hub. It also shows ongoing procurement endeavors for MALE UAVs and upgrades to existing UAV platforms. This technological advancement will increase India’s adoption of offensive designs in its military strategy, particularly in autonomous systems. This could potentially affect the conventional asymmetry between India and Pakistan.

Indian Army and Navy have also each procured two Hermes-900 UAVs, showcasing India’s pursuit of advanced ISR platforms to fortify capabilities. Hyderabad’s recognition as a defense and aerospace manufacturing hub further illuminates India’s commitment to cultivating an infrastructure which supports indigenous defense production.

This signals India’s pursuit of strengthening its defense capabilities in the unmanned aerial domain. Collectively, these initiatives explain India’s intention to leverage autonomous systems to enhance national security in line with its strategic ethos of Mahābhārata along with its various global partners.

Simultaneously, India has established strategic partnerships with international defense entities of the US and Israel for technological cooperation. One such entity is Elbit Systems of Israel, which has facilitated India’s advancement in the development and acquisition of UAV platforms. Adani Aerospace and Defence, in collaboration with Elbit Systems, collectively operate the Adani Elbit UAV Complex in Hyderabad. Together, they will focus on manufacturing carbon composite aerostructures for Hermes-900 and Hermes-450 UAVs. By integrating components and technology from global partners, India is improving the capabilities of its indigenous UAV systems, including the Drishti-10, which draws inspiration from Elbit Systems’ Hermes-900 UAV.

India is circumventing international scrutiny and ethical considerations around LAWS by combining indigenous capability development with strategic alliances to enhance defense capabilities. This approach is also evident in other initiatives – such as its partnership with Russia in missile systems like BrahMos, and anti-ballistic missile systems like S-400. Also, procurement projects like the acquisition of 31 MQ-9 Reaper advanced autonomous drones from the US, potentially risk disturbing strategic stability and deterrence in South Asia. 

Consequently, India’s proliferation of LAWS in South Asia carries significant implications for regional security dynamics. As India strengthens its military autonomous capabilities, neighboring states may take defensive measures to protect themselves against threats. This will result in potentially escalating tensions and precipitating a security dilemma across the region. Notably, India perceives LAWS as pivotal to maritime security and strategic deterrence. In this context, its utilization of LAWS – such as the Drishti-10 UAV, enhances maritime surveillance capabilities. In tandem, it extends the Indian Navy’s reach across the IOR.

Despite strengthening surveillance capabilities, this advancement may pose a threat to other peaceful states, specially because of Bharat’s intentions to become a maritime hegemon. Concerns about power projection and naval competition could catalyze instability within the maritime domain, exacerbating existing maritime disputes and territorial conflicts. Amid competing maritime interests and unresolved boundaries in the IOR, trust among regional actors may be eroded, potentially pushing maritime incidents or escalating tensions to the brink of conflict.

The development and deployment of lethal technologies, including UAVs and advanced missile systems, may be driven by the ambition of technological superiority. Nations see these capabilities as symbols of their military prowess and national prestige, fuelling a desire to showcase their technological advancements globally. Indian hubris in lethal technologies can lead to overconfidence and a willingness to engage in risky belligerent behavior, including brinkmanship and coercive diplomacy vis-à-vis Pakistan. The reliance on unmanned systems and precision-guided weapons may create a false sense of security, increasing the likelihood of unintended escalation and conflict.

In conclusion, India’s engagement in developing and deploying LAWS underscores its strategic imperatives and aspirations for regional and global influence. Hence, the pursuit of lethal technologies for national prestige – driving India to showcase its military prowess and technological advancements on the global stage, which highlights the potential risks of overconfidence and unintended conflict escalation in South Asia and beyond.

Muhammad Ali Baig

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Mr Muhammad Ali Baig is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.

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