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Indian artificial intelligence startup Sarvam AI has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence’s Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS) to develop and deploy AI applications across the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Announced on October 27, 2026, the agreement aims to expand the use of indigenous AI in military operations, training and decision-making.
Under the agreement, Sarvam will design, develop and deploy AI applications tailored to the operational requirements of the three services. The company will also provide technical support for the projects, while HQ IDS will coordinate the collaboration across the armed forces and joint defence organisations. <Cite refs={["turn788237search0","turn788237search1"]} /> The proposed applications will focus on decision support, target acquisition, training and data fusion. These systems are intended to help military personnel process information from multiple sources and support operational planning. The framework also envisages the use of AI across different defence functions, with human oversight retained over operational decisions.
The agreement will provide the three services access to a shared technology stack comprising foundation models, AI-agent infrastructure, and geospatial and perception systems. This approach could help the services share knowledge and build on capabilities developed through individual projects.
The work will be carried out by Chanakya, Sarvam’s dedicated division focused on national security and defence. The division will use the company’s AI technology stack, including its Sarvam 105B foundation model. The systems are intended to operate on sovereign infrastructure, supporting greater control over sensitive defence data. <Cite refs={["turn788237search0","turn788237search3"]} />Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar said the company was committed to developing AI in India for the country’s strategic requirements. The agreement also reflects the government’s broader push to strengthen self-reliance in defence technology and expand the use of domestically developed systems in sensitive sectors.
The financial value of the five-year agreement, along with detailed project timelines and deployment locations, has not been publicly disclosed. The specific applications to be developed under the framework are also expected to vary according to the requirements of the three services.
The partnership comes as India explores ways to integrate AI into defence while maintaining control over sensitive data and critical systems. However, deploying AI in military settings will require rigorous testing, cybersecurity safeguards and clear accountability, particularly where systems support operational decisions.
The effectiveness of the agreement will ultimately depend on how the proposed applications perform in practice, how securely they handle sensitive information and how successfully they meet the operational needs of India’s armed forces.
Under the agreement, Sarvam will design, develop and deploy AI applications tailored to the operational requirements of the three services. The company will also provide technical support for the projects, while HQ IDS will coordinate the collaboration across the armed forces and joint defence organisations. <Cite refs={["turn788237search0","turn788237search1"]} /> The proposed applications will focus on decision support, target acquisition, training and data fusion. These systems are intended to help military personnel process information from multiple sources and support operational planning. The framework also envisages the use of AI across different defence functions, with human oversight retained over operational decisions.
The agreement will provide the three services access to a shared technology stack comprising foundation models, AI-agent infrastructure, and geospatial and perception systems. This approach could help the services share knowledge and build on capabilities developed through individual projects.
The work will be carried out by Chanakya, Sarvam’s dedicated division focused on national security and defence. The division will use the company’s AI technology stack, including its Sarvam 105B foundation model. The systems are intended to operate on sovereign infrastructure, supporting greater control over sensitive defence data. <Cite refs={["turn788237search0","turn788237search3"]} />Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar said the company was committed to developing AI in India for the country’s strategic requirements. The agreement also reflects the government’s broader push to strengthen self-reliance in defence technology and expand the use of domestically developed systems in sensitive sectors.
The financial value of the five-year agreement, along with detailed project timelines and deployment locations, has not been publicly disclosed. The specific applications to be developed under the framework are also expected to vary according to the requirements of the three services.
The partnership comes as India explores ways to integrate AI into defence while maintaining control over sensitive data and critical systems. However, deploying AI in military settings will require rigorous testing, cybersecurity safeguards and clear accountability, particularly where systems support operational decisions.
The effectiveness of the agreement will ultimately depend on how the proposed applications perform in practice, how securely they handle sensitive information and how successfully they meet the operational needs of India’s armed forces.
