New Delhi: Underlining that drones for the Indian Air Force (IAF) are not revolutionary but evolutionary since they have been in use with them for over two decades, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday there is no need for any separate dedicated force for unmanned systems.
He underlined that unmanned systems need to be integrated with fighters, and missiles and other weapons rather than operated as standalone capabilities.
“Drones are not revolutionary for the Indian Air Force. Yes, they are evolutionary,” Singh said in response to a question at the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day on 8 October.
He said the IAF has had drone-related capabilities for decades and is now increasing the number and types of unmanned platforms as their role in warfare expands.
Asked whether the IAF was considering a separate drone force, Singh said, “Whether we need a separate drone force, I don’t think so.”
“They should be a part of the same setup and you have to be operating together. These have to be together along with other weapons so that they bring in that effect,” he said.
He added, “We cannot be operating one type of weapon only separately, somewhere, and one type of weapon separate. So we have not thought of having a separate force, not at all.”
He was responding to a query on whether the IAF will follow the Army’s strategy of creating exclusive drone formations.
The IAF chief gave the example of Operation Sindoor and underlined that the combined use of drones, fighters and other weapons ensured that the war ended within four days on their own terms.
He said that wars seeing only drone tactics have been going on for a long time.
India is developing a range of indigenous unmanned systems and technologies, with drones increasingly being incorporated into military operations.
This has led many to speculate that drones will lead to an era of manned fighter aircraft.
The IAF’s view is that drones cannot replace conventional combat aircraft or existing weapon systems. Instead, unmanned platforms are expected to operate alongside them as part of an integrated combat architecture.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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