DSSC Unveils a New Phase in Defence AI
The Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, has launched DRONA 2.0, an indigenous multimodal artificial intelligence platform designed to deepen the role of AI in military training, education, research and strategic studies. The development signals a growing institutional emphasis on integrating advanced digital tools into defence learning environments while also strengthening India’s domestic AI capabilities.
DRONA, which expands to DSSC Resource Optimising Neural AI, was first introduced as a customised GPT on the DSSC Wide Area Network on June 16, 2025. With DRONA 2.0, the platform has moved beyond its initial deployment into a more capable generative AI system that can support a broader range of academic and analytical requirements within the defence sector.
What Makes DRONA 2.0 Significant
A key feature of DRONA 2.0 is its indigenous foundation. The upgraded platform incorporates the SARVAM 105B large language model alongside open-source LLMs, reflecting an effort to build defence AI tools using locally developed technological strengths. This is especially significant at a time when strategic institutions are increasingly focused on data security, control over critical systems and reducing dependence on external technology ecosystems.
The term multimodal suggests that the platform is designed to work with different forms of information, not just plain text. In practical terms, that can make the system more useful for defence studies, where training and research often involve varied material, structured information and analytical tasks. By combining multimodal capability with generative AI, DRONA 2.0 could help improve how officers and researchers access knowledge, generate summaries and support strategic assessment.
DSSC and Sarvam AI Strengthen Collaboration
The platform was launched by Lt Gen Manish Erry, Commandant of DSSC, in the presence of Dr Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder of Sarvam AI. The event also saw DSSC and Sarvam AI sign a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on the continued development of DRONA GPT and other AI-based applications. This partnership underlines the growing importance of cooperation between public institutions and Indian AI companies in building specialised systems for national needs.
For the defence education ecosystem, the launch of DRONA 2.0 represents more than a technology upgrade. It points to a broader shift in how military institutions are preparing for a future in which artificial intelligence will play an expanding role in research, decision support and strategic thinking. As India advances its indigenous AI agenda, platforms like DRONA 2.0 may become an important part of modernising defence studies and strengthening institutional self-reliance.
Key Terms
- Multimodal: An AI system that can process more than one type of input or data, such as text, images or other formats.
- Generative AI: Artificial intelligence that can create responses, summaries or other content based on learned patterns.
- Indigenous: Developed within the country rather than sourced from abroad.
- Large Language Model (LLM): A type of AI trained on very large volumes of text to understand and generate language.
- Open-source: Software or models made publicly available for use, study or modification.
- GPT: A kind of AI model designed to understand prompts and generate text-based responses.
- Wide Area Network (WAN): A network that connects computers across a large institutional or geographic area.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A formal agreement that sets out plans for cooperation between two parties.
