Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari on November 19 stressed the need for investing in new and disruptive technologies.
Speaking at a session on aerospace and defence in the Synergia Conclave 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief said, “It is imperative that we invest in new and disruptive technologies and identify innovative solutions for their applications in the aerospace domain.”
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said that for this to happen it would require a joint and consolidated effort on the part of all stakeholders.
“It will require a joint and consolidated effort on the part of all stakeholders, including defence PSUs, private industries, academia, and all others to facilitate the process of aligning technologies that will enable our armed forces to emerge victorious in any future conflict,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said.
The IAF chief said Artificial Intelligence (AI) might not replace human ingenuity, and technological innovations could ensure enhanced survivability, the flexibility of machinery, and effective combat for winning strategies.
“Technologies can be applied in terms of stealth, self-healing structures, powerful health monitoring and diagnostics systems, and more efficient engines. Therefore, AI and machine learning can facilitate improvements within the aerospace and defence sector,” the IAF chief said.
Multiple projects
He said the IAF was deeply involved in multiple projects across domains such as space, and that it was working towards enhancing its own capabilities.
On the applications of disruptive technologies, he said conventional knowledge would lead to incremental change but the innovative use of converging technology would lead to exponential change.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the conversions of technologies, rather than individual technologies, had proven to be game changers on the battlefield today.
