Pune, 30th May 2026: At the National Defence Academy (NDA), Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi said the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a necessity in modern warfare as the nature of global conflicts is rapidly changing.
Addressing the media after the Passing Out Parade ceremony, General Dwivedi said technology is helping armed forces make faster and more effective decisions while improving the use of available resources.
He emphasized that every soldier should develop the ability to operate drones, as drone-based warfare will play a major role in future battlefields.
The Army Chief said the Indian Armed Forces are increasingly focusing on integrating Artificial Intelligence and advanced technologies into military operations and training systems.
He added that proper drone training has now become essential due to the growing presence of unmanned systems during combat situations.
Speaking about the NDA Passing Out Parade, General Dwivedi said 353 cadets successfully completed their training this year, including 18 women cadets. He praised the young cadets for their commitment to national service and said interacting with cadets at Charlie Squadron reminded him of the energy and spirit of his own training days.
On national security, the Army Chief stated that Operation Sindur will continue in the coming days. He said the armed forces are working towards stronger coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force to effectively deal with future war-like situations and security threats.
General Dwivedi also highlighted the importance of trust, coordination and information-sharing in modern warfare. “Victory is always remembered, but in information-based warfare, coordination and mutual trust among different systems are equally important,” he said.
He further said India’s proposed Theatre Command structure could become operational within the next two to three years, significantly improving joint military operations.
Highlighting the government’s push for self-reliance in defence, General Dwivedi said the Armed Forces are giving strong importance to the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He added that increasing domestic defence manufacturing is also creating opportunities for Indian industries and boosting the country’s defence sector.
