The Indian Army is undergoing a significant technological transformation through the strategic deployment of advanced electronic warfare systems and artificial intelligence capabilities. This modernisation effort includes the development of indigenous systems like SAMBHAV, Samyukta, and Himshakti, alongside the integration of AI-powered surveillance and detection platforms.
These innovations represent a fundamental shift in India’s defence posture, moving beyond conventional warfare capabilities to establish dominance in the digital and electromagnetic domains. The coordinated implementation of these technologies, aligned with the Ministry of Defence’s declaration of 2025 as the “year of reforms,” positions India to effectively counter emerging hybrid threats while enhancing operational readiness across multiple theatres.
SAMBHAV: Revolutionising Secure Military Communications
The Indian Army has developed an innovative end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem called SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version), representing a quantum leap in India’s defence communications capabilities. This ground breaking system facilitates secure communication with instant connectivity, even while on the move, addressing critical vulnerabilities in traditional mobile networks that are susceptible to eavesdropping and compromise. SAMBHAV
uses 5G-ready phones with advanced multi-tier encryption to create a secure communication environment that is independent of networks, thereby removing the conventional security threats related to mobile communications.
SAMBHAV, which was created by the Indian Army in cooperation with top academic and business specialists, demonstrates India’s dedication to technical innovation in defence by utilising already-existing public cellular networks running on 5G technology. This approach aligns perfectly with the government’s strategic vision of “dual-use infrastructure” and “civil-military fusion” in technology development, maximising resource utilisation while enhancing operational capabilities. By integrating military-grade security layers with already-existing civilian infrastructure, the implementation demonstrates a practical approach to defence modernisation.
The deployment strategy for SAMBHAV involves an ambitious rollout of 35,000 sets in two carefully planned phases, with 2,500 units scheduled for deployment by January 15, 2024, and the remaining units to be implemented by May 31, 2024. This tiered strategy maintains operational continuity while enabling methodical testing and integration. The comprehensive deployment will significantly enhance the Indian Army’s ability to maintain secure communications in diverse operational environments, including contested battlespaces where communication integrity is critical to mission success.
Command Cyber Operations Support Wings
In conjunction with SAMBHAV’s deployment, the Indian Army is establishing specialised Command Cyber Operations Support Wings (CCOSWs) to augment its cyber warfare capabilities. These dedicated sub-units will strengthen cyber capabilities at operational and tactical levels, representing a multi-layered approach to digital domain security. The establishment of six CCOSWs across all commands, with personnel receiving specialist training and participating in validation exercises, demonstrates the Army’s commitment to building robust cyber defence and offence capabilities. This integrated approach ensures that technological advancements in communications are supported by specialised personnel capable of maintaining and defending these systems against sophisticated cyber threats.
Indigenous Electronic Warfare Systems: Samyukta and Himshakti
With the help of systems like Samyukta and Himshakti, which are essential for fending off electronic threats in a variety of terrains, the Indian Army has made great progress in building up its own electronic warfare capabilities. These indigenously created systems meet particular operational needs particular to India’s varied geographic contexts while demonstrating the country’s increasing technological independence in vital defence areas. Samyukta, designed for tactical battlefield surveillance, provides the Indian Army with advanced electronic intelligence gathering capabilities essential for maintaining situational awareness in contested electromagnetic environments.
These indigenous systems form a critical component of India’s electronic warfare architecture, enabling forces to detect, analyse, and counter enemy electronic emissions across the operational spectrum. Their deployment across different terrains demonstrates the versatility
and adaptability of India’s electronic warfare capabilities, essential qualities in modern multi-domain operations where electronic superiority often determines battlefield outcomes. The continued development and enhancement of these platforms reflect India’s commitment to maintaining technological parity with potential adversaries while reducing dependence on foreign systems.
However, military planners recognise that a gap exists between cyber and electronic warfare operations that requires bridging, as adversaries increasingly integrate cyberattacks with electronic disruption techniques in coordinated campaigns. This recognition has driven initiatives to develop more integrated approaches to cyber-electronic warfare, seeking synergies between these traditionally separate domains. The development of these indigenous systems also contributes to India’s broader defence industrial ecosystem, creating expertise and capabilities that can be leveraged for future technological innovations.
One notable AI implementation is the Motion Detection & Target Identification System deployed along sensitive borders, capable of generating real-time audio/visual alerts by detecting suspicious enemy movements from multiple surveillance inputs including PTZ Cameras, LORROS, HHTI, and TTIOE. This system performs continuous real-time motion detection, target identification, and tracking across line of control, line of actual control, and counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism areas, significantly enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities. The system’s ability to function effectively in challenging environments, including night time operations using IR and thermal vision, addresses critical operational requirements for continuous border monitoring.
Another innovative AI implementation is the Continuously Observing Ubiquitously Available AI-Surveillance System, which overcomes limitations of traditional surveillance equipment such as line-of-sight restrictions, high resource requirements, power demands, and the need for continuous manning. This advanced system employs artificial intelligence to maintain persistent surveillance while optimising resource utilisation, representing a significant advancement in military surveillance capabilities. These AI systems collectively enhance the Indian Army’s ability to detect, analyse, and respond to threats across multiple domains with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
