The Indian Army has tested a suite of advanced surveillance and artificial intelligence technologies during a high-altitude military exercise named ‘Divya Drishti’ in East Sikkim. Held in July 2025, the exercise aimed to assess the Army’s preparedness for future warfare scenarios by integrating AI-driven tools with ground and aerial surveillance systems.
Troops from the Trishakti Corps simulated realistic combat conditions using unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, and ground-based platforms to evaluate sensor-to-shooter capabilities. Key systems on display included AI-enabled sensors that were networked through secure communication systems, allowing seamless data flow from forward areas to command centres in real time.
The Ministry of Defence said the exercise focused on enhancing battlefield awareness and reducing decision-making time. “On the modern battlefield, the ability to see more, understand quickly, and act fast decides success,” it stated.
Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (IS&C), reviewed the exercise on behalf of Army Headquarters. General Officer Commanding of Trishakti Corps, Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla, said that the technologies were tested under demanding conditions to draw actionable insights that would influence future doctrine and tactics.
The Army’s Eastern Command described the exercise as a step toward greater self-reliance and digital transformation, in line with the Army’s Decade of Transformation plan and the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Officials indicated that lessons from ‘Divya Drishti’ will be incorporated into training and procurement strategies to ensure the Indian Army stays ahead in modern high-tech conflict environments.
