The advent of emerging technologies is rapidly reshaping our traditional understanding of military capabilities across conventional and nuclear domains. Cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, hypersonic weapons, and quantum computing are not only enhancing military capabilities but also introducing new nuclear weapon policy questions. These innovations will both change how future wars will be fought and further complicate geostrategic competition. In a myriad of technological innovations impacting military capabilities, emerging technology today is at the forefront to change the contours of warfighting. Given the vast scope and speed of technological progress, it is important to establish an understanding of what constitutes an emerging technology. Emerging technologies in military studies are nascent or early innovations that have an element of considerable uncertainty and the potential to disrupt the usual abilities of existing military capabilities. For example, quantum sensing technology is a novel innovation in military applications that could potentially revolutionize detection and navigation capabilities. These technologies often have their origin in civilian sectors, but also possess the ability to render existing military capabilities obsolete and transform the battlefield. This piece explores emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous systems, and advanced nuclear capabilities in the context of military applications. As geostrategic competition between countries on the development of emerging technologies intensifies, it is important to recognize that these capabilities have immense power and the potential to permeate into all domains of military applications. The added complexity of an uneven distribution of technological capabilities across the globe gives rise to an unending race to catch up with new developments. For example, the United States restricted semiconductor exports to China, aiming to slow China’s AI chip development. In response, China increases domestic investment in chip manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign technology. Similar emerging technological capabilities have the capacity to impact both conventional and nuclear forces, which necessitates a holistic analysis into both domains. Impact on Conventional Military Capabilities The advent of emerging technologies has changed how military operations are conducted. Among the top technological developments are the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous weapons systems. These technologies hold unprecedented potential in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance capabilities (ISR), decision-making, and unmanned systems operations. Their integration in the military has improved precision strike accuracy and battlefield management. This has amplified the lethality and efficiency of conventional capabilities of the military. Almost all modern militaries today have utilized these technologies to enhance strategic decision making and warfare systems. For example, Israel’s use of its “Gospel and Lavender” AI programs have dramatically accelerated target identification. While Israel maintains these are just analytical tools requiring human oversight, there are concerns about over-reliance on AI recommendations in war. Such integration is a double edged sword and raises important questions about the need for human intervention in the decision making and the building of trust in autonomous systems. Cyber and electronic warfare (EW) also offers another important opportunity to provide the military with both offensive and defensive capabilities. Both have the potential to aid information warfare and the ability to integrate cyber operations with conventional capabilities. China’s new Information Support Force (ISF) is one example of this. China’s intentions behind its recent establishment of ISF stresses the importance of information dominance and has emphasised the crucial role of “integrated development and use of the network information system.” The focus is on the use of information assets to complement combat roles and responsibilities. Apart from the relevance of information in the battlefield, kinetic means of warfare have also been coupled with emerging tech capabilities. Hypersonic weapons and directed energy weapon systems may also potentially change the outcome of war at a faster speed than ever before. These systems can penetrate advanced air defence systems and strike time-sensitive targets with unprecedented speed and precision, upending the traditional understanding of deterrence and warfighting. Nuclear Capabilities and Emerging Technology The impact of emerging technologies extends beyond the conventional domain. These technologies have a direct impact on nuclear capabilities and deterrence. The integration of AI, cyber capabilities, and space-based systems into command, control, communications, and intelligence (NC3) systems bring new vulnerabilities. This raises concerns about the reliability and security of communication networks that are essential for nuclear decision-making in real time. The fusion of emerging technologies into early warning and missile defence systems enhances battlefield awareness and decision-making, but it also risks the credibility of deterrence and strategic stability. Such fusion could create uncertainties about system reliability and introduce new vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks or manipulation, potentially undermining confidence in deterrence capabilities and destabilizing strategic relationships between nuclear powers. In this light, the most concerning is the impact of emerging technologies on nuclear delivery systems. The advent of hypersonic glide vehicles, boost-glide systems, and other advanced delivery platforms challenges the survivability of nuclear arsenals. This erodes the cornerstone of mutually assured destruction (MAD) and increasing the risk of inadvertent escalation in case of a conflict. The Entanglement Dilemma With emerging technologies continuing to evolve, the distinction between conventional and nuclear capabilities are becoming increasingly blurred. This new challenge risks ‘entanglement’ of the two domains. Entanglement increases the risk of escalation on the battlefield, as the use of conventional weapons may be misinterpreted as a nuclear attack. This could trigger an unintended and uncontrollable escalation. Integrating artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities into NC3 systems introduces the risk of a disruptive and potentially compromising cyberattack. Integrating AI in NC3 systems—particularly without a “human in the loop”—also raises concerns about the safety and security of nuclear decision-making processes, increasing the risk of accidental launches. These developments blur the distinction between conventional and nuclear warfare, heightening the risk of inadvertent escalation. In a crisis scenario, the use of such conventional weapons could lead to misperceptions or escalation, triggering a nuclear response. Case of India Following the Indian Army’s celebration of 2024 as the year of technology absorption, the armed forces finds itself in the cusp of transition where the utilisation of emerging technologies seems like necessity rather than a choice. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war serves as a lesson of how the effective deployment of emerging technologies can reshape the battlefield. Faced with the formidable challenge posed by a technologically superior and structurally agile China, India recognises the need to evolve itself technologically to match China’s pace. At present, the utilisation of emerging technologies in India has primarily focused on the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in domains such as lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), unmanned surveillance, simulated wargames and training, cyber and aerospace security, as well as intelligence and reconnaissance. A few commendable initiatives have taken place within the armed forces for early recognition and adoption of such emerging technology. With the establishment of the Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG), efforts to spearhead the integration of critical technological domains are underway, including electronic exchanges, mobile communications, software-defined radios, electronic warfare systems, 5G and 6G networks, quantum technologies, and AI/ML. While the fear of blurring the distinction between conventional and nuclear capabilities due to the adoption of these emerging technologies is less pronounced for India, it is not completely out of the picture. The changing dynamics of war necessitate that India accelerate its technological absorption, as these emerging technologies present both opportunities and challenges for its conventional and nuclear capabilities, reshaping the very nature of warfare and deterrence. India’s potential future lies in harnessing the power of emerging technologies to strengthen its command-and-control structures, update its doctrines and postures, and raise a technologically savvy force capable of evolving through these changes. India should ensure that any integration of emerging technology into its NC3 infrastructure maintains robust safeguards. It should also develop comprehensive training programs and recruitment pathways to build a technologically proficient military force, and conduct regular strategic assessments to update its nuclear doctrine and posture in light of technological advancements. These measures would help India balance technological modernization with strategic stability while developing the necessary human capital to manage these transformational changes.