Karnataka Startup Unveils India’s First Indigenous Defence AI Technology

BENGALURU: Karnataka-based startup Neuralix AI has developed India’s first fully indigenous defence artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a milestone unveiled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the ‘Chanakya Defence’ dialogue held recently at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

Neuralix, founded by a team of Kannadiga technologists, created the Defence AI system under the Ministry of Defence’s IDEX ADITYA 2.0 initiative. The company says the project lays the groundwork for India’s next generation of strategic capabilities by encouraging domestic innovation and reducing reliance on foreign technologies.

In a statement, Defence Minister Singh said the new AI platform strengthens India’s military preparedness and aligns with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. He added that indigenous development in critical defence technologies is crucial for long-term national security.

Vikram Jayaram, Co-Founder of Neuralix AI, said the IDEX ADITYA 2.0 programme is opening the door for startups to contribute directly to high-end defence innovation. “This opportunity has allowed us to develop an indigenous Defence AI system. It is a moment of pride for Kannadigas, and we are honoured to support India’s strategic sectors with homegrown AI solutions,” he said.

The newly developed system is designed around an Indian large language model (LLM) and tailored for defence operations. According to Neuralix, the technology can assist with command support, document processing, speech-based interfaces, translation tools, operational analytics, and integration of data systems. It also aims to reduce dependency on foreign cloud services and external connectivity.

The company says these capabilities will help the armed forces build a more secure, self-reliant, and future-ready digital ecosystem, improving operational readiness while limiting reliance on imported technologies.