The Multipurpose Utilities Of AI And Robotics Are Transforming Defence Sector

The global AI and robotics in aerospace and defence market was valued at $32.5 billion in 2024. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.7 per cent from 2025 to 2034.

Professional service defence robots are deployed by the military in combat scenarios. They're often intended to enhance a soldier's existing capabilities, while keeping them out of harm's way as much as possible.

Being tele-operated and not equipped with weapons, a majority of military robots are used for reconnaissance, surveillance, sniper detection, and neutralizing explosive devices.

One of the most common of them is the transportation robot. Their technology can help soldiers transport different supplies like artillery, bombs and other supplies. They can also be used to transport casualties and the wounded from the battlefield. They are typically unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) robots that come equipped with wheels or legs. However, their resourcefulness is that they can also be used in the air as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).

One of the most important roles of military robots is to assist in search and rescue missions. They provide critical support in finding missing or captured personnel. They are advantageous since they can often go where humans can’t—whether underwater, through floods, wildfires, or over mountains.

Minefields can be incredibly lethal in war. However, what’s worse is that they’re incredibly challenging to clear after a war zone is cleared and life returns to normal. Oftentimes, mines that are not cleared kill locals, years after a war has ended.

The Indian defence sector has learnt about the importance of using the futuristic technology such as Artificial Intelligence and robotics in defending a country’s security; in increasing effectiveness of operations and in defining the contours of future warfare. These technologies are gradually forming the core of defence manufacturing, war strategies and further defining future weapon platforms.

AI has successfully established itself in the Indian defence industry, and it is bound to increase in the future. They have a possibility to change the monitoring of the warfare to the decision-making process in military action.

AI in the defence technology helps a lot in decision-making in terms of time management of data, threats and battle management. The defence industry is being revolutionized by how AI offers the military forces predictive analysis as well as awareness to make efficient decisions at the right time.

In addition, the use of AI in defence manufacturing is very crucial in the enhancement of production of military products. It defines and manages production lines, improves quality assurance and eliminates the issue of human interventions hence making manufacturing more efficient all in an organized manner.

Some of the uses of robotics in defence include unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based robots and even autonomous underwater robots. These technologies also reduce risks associated with involvement of human beings in unnecessarily hostile territories to protect the soldiers involved. The incorporation of AI with these robots makes them intelligent in operations, efficient and also flexible with their behaviour in addition to the other aspects of such robots.

Robotics automation in defence sector is assisting manufactures in producing the equipment that are requiring more accuracy, quality and speed with low cost and high productivity.

Military organizations’ aiming towards producing future weapons with AI capabilities is set on improving intelligence and autonomy. They are the concept of next-generation weapons that is capable of learning and adjusting to the environment, evaluate threat levels in real-time and operate in an optimal fashion. The smart drones, autonomous tanks, or precision guided missiles wherever they may be in future, military will keep on transforming with the help of AI.

Moreover, the use of robotics in defence is not just confined to the military front. The manufacturing industry uses robots to construct sophisticated and precise military equipment and defence systems. The use of robotic automation in defence results in developing reliable and strong systems so that military forces have apt tools at their disposal. Robotics is gaining its importance very fast in the manufacture of complicated machineries and equipment like aircraft, tanks and missiles, among others, where precise and consistent assembling and jointing is not possible manually.

India has secured a $3.99 billion deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from General Atomics. This acquisition, part of India's defense modernization, strengthens its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and deepens the strategic partnership with the U.S.

These systems offer strategic advantages, including enhanced operational reach, reduced personnel risk, and the ability to execute complex missions in challenging environments.