India’s defence architecture relies on a web of software-driven communication systems, satellite networks, radar installations, air defence mechanisms and logistics chains. The emergence of advanced AI models like Anthropic’s Claude Mythos introduces a new category of risk. Experts believe that in the hands of malicious actors, Mythos-like AI could scan military-grade software to uncover hidden or previously unknown vulnerabilities at a negligible cost. Unlike traditional cyber threats that depend on human expertise and take time, such AI systems can automate vulnerability discovery and exploitation at scale, drastically reducing response windows. In a worst-case scenario, adversaries can infiltrate defence networks, disrupt satellite communications, break logistics chains essential for troop movement and resource deployment as well as compromise the integrity of radar and air defence systems. All this can weaken operational preparedness; during a conflict scenario, this can prove fatal. The integration of such advanced AI into offensive cyber operations demands a fundamental shift in how India approaches strategic defence preparedness.
