Sarvam enters defence AI with projects across Army, Navy and Air Force

Bengaluru-based AI startup Sarvam has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) under the Ministry of Defence to build artificial intelligence (AI) applications for the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

The agreement sets a single framework for multiple AI projects across the three Services. It also covers the joint and tri-service organisations, under HQ IDS.

The partnership comes as India looks to reduce its dependence on foreign technology in defence and develop AI systems that can operate on infrastructure controlled within the country.


The company did not disclose the value of the agreement, the number of projects or timelines for deployment.

ET AI has reached out for comments. The story will be updated once a response is received.

"Sarvam exists to build AI in India, for India. The core of that mission is to put the country's own intelligence into the systems it depends on," Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar said.

As part of the MoU, Sarvam will design, develop and deploy AI tools for the operational, training and decision-support needs of the armed forces and will provide technical support after deployment.

One area of work involves combining information from different military sensors to help personnel assess situations and respond faster. The systems will also support target acquisition and the process of moving information from sensors to military units responsible for taking action.

According to the company, humans will retain control over operational decisions.

Chanakya, Sarvam's firewalled division for national security and defence, will carry out the projects. The unit will use Sarvam's AI stack, including its Sarvam 105B foundation model.

Because the three Services and the joint organisations will draw on the same foundation models, agentic infrastructure and geospatial and perception systems, lessons from a project in one Service can carry over to the next.

Sarvam and HQ IDS also plan to build an AI layer that links different parts of India's defence capabilities.