NEW DELHI: Stressing on acquiring the most advanced but indigenous defence technologies to have an upper hand over adversaries, chief of defence staff general Anil Chauhan said that “in today’s warfare, you cannot win with yesterday’s weapon systems”. “Today's warfare has to be fought with tomorrow’s technology,” he said.
The CDS advocated for accelerated development of homegrown drone technology and counter-UAS grids, cautioning that outdated technology cannot be relied upon in modern battlefields.
In his address at an event held at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, CDS Chauhan also pointed out that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had used unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10 but “none of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure, and most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means”.
Laying stress on self-reliance in drone and UAV technology, he said, “Our 'Operation Sindoor' has shown us why we must not depend on imported drone or counter-drone technology. Indigenous systems are critical. Foreign systems come with limitations — their specifications are widely known, allowing adversaries to anticipate tactics.”
Gen Chauhan said recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can “shift tactical balance disproportionately”. Asserting that self-reliance in UAVs and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) is a “strategic imperative” for India, he said Operation Sindoor has shown why indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and C-UAS “built for our terrain and our needs are crucial”. “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,” he said.
“In the history of warfare, we have witnessed revolutionary changes — from heavy rifles to lighter, more sophisticated long-range weapons. But the biggest shift is the emergence of drones and unarmed aerial systems. Their utility has grown multifold — from basic surveillance tools to becoming effective force multipliers on the battlefield,” Gen Chauhan said.
He explained that drones, despite being smaller and less aerodynamic, are reshaping conventional warfare. “They are cheaper, harder to detect and yet sophisticated. This defies traditional military thinking,” he said. Operation Sindoor, he said, clearly demonstrated the need to secure lower airspace and develop integrated counter-UAV systems.
His statement comes amid a global shift towards drone-dominated conflicts, like in the case of the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, where hundreds of drones are being used for bombing strategic targets, individuals and even key installations.
The CDS advocated for accelerated development of homegrown drone technology and counter-UAS grids, cautioning that outdated technology cannot be relied upon in modern battlefields.
In his address at an event held at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, CDS Chauhan also pointed out that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had used unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10 but “none of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure, and most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means”.
Laying stress on self-reliance in drone and UAV technology, he said, “Our 'Operation Sindoor' has shown us why we must not depend on imported drone or counter-drone technology. Indigenous systems are critical. Foreign systems come with limitations — their specifications are widely known, allowing adversaries to anticipate tactics.”
Gen Chauhan said recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can “shift tactical balance disproportionately”. Asserting that self-reliance in UAVs and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) is a “strategic imperative” for India, he said Operation Sindoor has shown why indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and C-UAS “built for our terrain and our needs are crucial”. “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,” he said.
“In the history of warfare, we have witnessed revolutionary changes — from heavy rifles to lighter, more sophisticated long-range weapons. But the biggest shift is the emergence of drones and unarmed aerial systems. Their utility has grown multifold — from basic surveillance tools to becoming effective force multipliers on the battlefield,” Gen Chauhan said.
He explained that drones, despite being smaller and less aerodynamic, are reshaping conventional warfare. “They are cheaper, harder to detect and yet sophisticated. This defies traditional military thinking,” he said. Operation Sindoor, he said, clearly demonstrated the need to secure lower airspace and develop integrated counter-UAV systems.
His statement comes amid a global shift towards drone-dominated conflicts, like in the case of the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, where hundreds of drones are being used for bombing strategic targets, individuals and even key installations.
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