The Future of War: How the Indian Army’s AR/VR and AI Leap is Redefining Defence for the Technological Age

War no longer looks like what history textbooks taught us. The battlefields of tomorrow are being shaped not just by soldiers and weapons, but by algorithms, augmented vision, and intelligent machines. From Ukraine’s nimble use of FPV drones to neutralize Russian T-90 tanks, to Israel’s AI-assisted assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the age of “smart warfare” has arrived — where data and digital dominance decide outcomes.

At the forefront of this transformation is a bold alliance in India, where the Indian Army has joined forces with IIT Bhubaneswar to pioneer advancements in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). Signed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Army’s Simulator Development Division (SDD) and IIT’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Centre of Excellence (VARCoE), this partnership underscores a new era of defence readiness powered by immersive training and intelligent simulation.

The collaboration will drive joint innovation across next-generation military simulation, robotics, and mission planning tools — enabling troops to prepare for complex battlefield environments through hyper-realistic VR systems and AR overlays that enhance situational awareness. IIT Bhubaneswar will lend academic and R&D capabilities, while SDD will provide real-world testing grounds, co-develop prototypes, and organize hackathons to spark new defence tech ideas.

Globally, the vision for “soldier-tech symbiosis” is already unfolding through systems like Palmer Luckey’s EagleEye at Anduril Industries — a modular, AI-enabled combat headset developed in partnership with Meta, Qualcomm, Gentex, and OSI. EagleEye integrates mission command, augmented reality overlays, and drone control directly into the warfighter’s helmet, allowing soldiers to visualize 3D maps, coordinate robotic teammates, detect threats via RF sensors, and even “see through walls.” It represents a new frontier where human perception is merged with machine intelligence — and India’s latest collaboration points firmly in the same direction.

For the Indian Army, such strides are not just about modernization but strategic sovereignty. By leveraging indigenous talent at IIT Bhubaneswar, the initiative fosters a self-reliant ecosystem of defence innovation while nurturing young minds through internships, hands-on training, and certification programs in AR/VR simulation, robotics, and AI integration.

Over the next decade, the definition of warfare will shift from kinetic clashes to cognitive combat — driven by real-time data, autonomous systems, and AR-enhanced decision-making. As IIT Bhubaneswar and the Indian Army begin this five-year journey, they are effectively laying the groundwork for India’s entry into a global defence paradigm where seeing, predicting, and responding faster than the adversary is the ultimate advantage.

In the coming years, as technology continues to blend with human capability, one thing is clear — wars will increasingly be fought with pixels and processors, not just bullets and battalions. And India, through its AR, VR, and AI-centric defence innovation, is ensuring its soldiers are ready for that future.