SOURCE: AFI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing missile manufacturing in India, ushering in an era of precision, adaptability, and rapid innovation, according to G.A. Srinivasa Murthy, Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). Speaking in late February 2025, Murthy revealed that DRDL, a key arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) based in Hyderabad, is harnessing AI to streamline missile production, with around 20 projects currently underway.
Highlighting a recent milestone, he noted that just two months prior—in December 2024—DRDL successfully manufactured a hypersonic missile, a feat made possible by AI-driven advancements. This integration of AI not only accelerates development but also ensures missiles remain upgradeable to meet evolving technological and battlefield demands.
“AI technology is transforming how we design, build, and refine missiles,” Murthy stated, underscoring its role across the manufacturing lifecycle. At DRDL, known for spearheading India’s missile programs like Agni, Prithvi, and Akash, AI is being deployed to optimize complex processes that once relied heavily on human expertise and iterative testing. From conceptual design to final assembly, AI algorithms analyze vast datasets—material properties, aerodynamic models, and propulsion dynamics—to predict performance, identify flaws, and suggest improvements in real time.
One key application is in precision manufacturing. Missiles, especially hypersonic ones traveling beyond Mach 5 (6,200 km/h), demand exact tolerances in components like nozzles, fins, and guidance systems. AI-driven robotics and machine learning ensure these parts are crafted with micron-level accuracy, reducing human error and production time. “Once a missile is manufactured, it’s not static—it’s upgraded with changing technology,” Murthy explained, pointing to AI’s role in enabling modular designs that can integrate new sensors, propulsion upgrades, or warheads as threats evolve.
Murthy’s revelation of 20 ongoing missile projects underscores DRDO’s ambitious roadmap. While specifics remain classified, these likely span ballistic, cruise, and anti-tank systems—each leveraging AI differently. For instance, AI could refine the Pinaka III’s 120 km-range rocket (unveiled in 2025) by enhancing its guidance algorithms, or accelerate the Nag ATGM’s thermal seeker development. “AI lets us iterate faster—design, test, tweak, repeat,” Murthy said, hinting at a pipeline that includes next-gen hypersonics, possibly with ranges pushing 300 km as teased in earlier DRDO statements.
Beyond manufacturing, AI aids in lifecycle management. Post-production, missiles are retrofitted with upgrades—say, swapping inertial navigation for laser-guided systems—using AI to predict compatibility and performance. This adaptability is vital as adversaries deploy countermeasures like electronic jamming or drone swarms, requiring missiles to stay ahead. “We’re not just building weapons; we’re building adaptable platforms,” Murthy emphasized, a nod to AI’s predictive maintenance models that flag wear in components before failure.
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