India’s armed forces successfully deployed artificial intelligence–driven predictive systems to pre-empt and neutralise an unusual Chinese military manoeuvre along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, a senior Army commander has disclosed.
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana said AI-enabled tools played a decisive role in identifying early warning signs of Chinese activity in a sensitive sector along the LAC. He underlined that artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern warfare, military strategy and national security planning.
Recounting his experience while commanding a Corps responsible for securing the Arunachal frontier, Lt Gen Rana said a locally developed, cost-effective AI system flagged abnormal patterns indicating a potential build-up by Chinese forces. The system enabled Indian commanders to accurately anticipate the timing of the move, allowing forces to be positioned in advance.
He described the Chinese action as “unprecedented” and said timely AI-driven intelligence helped planners organise troop deployment and evacuation measures efficiently, ensuring there were no casualties on the Indian side.
AI’s Growing Role in Modern Warfare
Lt Gen Rana noted that artificial intelligence has moved from theory to operational reality and is now a key factor shaping global military power. He pointed to heavy investments by major powers, particularly the United States and China, calling it a full-fledged global AI race.
AI, he said, now influences far more than software systems, extending into military doctrine, command-and-control structures, infrastructure, logistics and workforce development. Armed forces worldwide are integrating AI into areas such as autonomous systems, precision targeting, intelligence analysis, cyber operations, electronic warfare, maritime surveillance and counter-disinformation efforts.
In cyberspace, he added, AI-powered tools can be used both to launch advanced attacks and to strengthen defensive capabilities by identifying vulnerabilities in real time.
Concerns Over Artificial Superintelligence
The senior officer also cautioned about the risks associated with the evolution of AI toward artificial superintelligence (ASI). While advanced AI offers significant strategic advantages, he warned that it could also be exploited by rogue actors or used as a tool of coercion, similar to nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.
Unlike nuclear technology, however, controlling the spread of AI would be far more difficult due to its digital and widely accessible nature.
Need for an Indian AI Security Doctrine
Drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Lt Gen Rana stressed the importance of scalable, low-cost AI-driven battlefield systems such as autonomous drones, rather than reliance solely on expensive high-end platforms.
He called for India to formulate a comprehensive AI security doctrine that integrates economic, cyber, space and military considerations. Such an approach, he said, would help policymakers assess the broader consequences of strategic decisions.
“As India aspires to become a global power, it must also act as a responsible AI power, just as it has done with nuclear technology,” he said, reaffirming that India would deploy advanced AI capabilities in a responsible and measured manner.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
