India, March 16 -- Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a defining factor in modern military strategy, particularly in regions marked by ongoing geopolitical tension such as the Middle East. The integration of AI into drones, missile guidance systems and surveillance platforms is altering how quickly military operations unfold, how widely they can be scaled, and how decisions are made during conflict.

Iran's evolving unmanned systems programme offers a clear example of this transformation. Over the past decade, the country has invested in developing drones that combine relatively inexpensive hardware with more advanced software, sensors and navigation technologies. These developments are now influencing conflicts both within ...