Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has emphasized the critical need for India to develop indigenous drone and counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies to maintain a strategic advantage in modern warfare. Speaking at a workshop in New Delhi, he highlighted the transformative impact of drones on military operations and the importance of self-reliance in this domain.
General Chauhan warned against dependence on foreign technologies, stating that it weakens national preparedness, limits production scalability, and creates a shortfall of critical spare parts. He stressed that "we cannot win today's warfare with yesterday's weapon systems; today's warfare has to be fought with tomorrow's technology". He advocated for the accelerated development of homegrown drone technology and counter-UAS grids, cautioning against reliance on outdated technology in modern battlefields.
The CDS highlighted the lessons learned from Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan deployed drones and loitering munitions against India. While these attacks did not inflict any significant damage, they underscored the vulnerability of critical assets and the need for robust counter-drone capabilities. General Chauhan noted that most of the drones were neutralized through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means, and some were recovered in almost intact condition. He emphasized that Operation Sindoor demonstrated the need for indigenous development of UAS and C-UAS technologies, tailored to India's terrain and needs.
General Chauhan described the present shift in warfare as both evolutionary and revolutionary. Evolutionary changes include the steady improvement in weapons, making them lighter, faster, and cheaper. Revolutionary changes, on the other hand, fundamentally alter the character of warfare and demand a rethinking of how armed forces are organized and operate. He noted that asymmetric drone warfare is making large platforms vulnerable and driving militaries to rethink the conceptual aspects of air doctrines, development of C-UAS, and adaptive moves of engagement.
The CDS also spoke about the "third revolution" in warfare, which is data-centric, driven by advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics. He stressed the need to rework military thinking, structures, and doctrines to stay prepared for the nature of future conflicts. Drones, originally developed for civilian uses, have become a force multiplier in military operations, augmenting manned systems and conducting simultaneous operations across multiple domains with limited resources and minimal risk to human life.
General Chauhan observed that airspace is being redefined, with swarm tactics, autonomous missions, and manned-unmanned teaming posing new threats to established platforms. He emphasized that self-reliance in UAV and counter-UAV technologies is not only a strategic imperative but also about safeguarding India's interests and seizing the opportunities of the future.
