New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can “shift tactical balance disproportionately”, and asserted that self-reliance in UAVs and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) is a “strategic imperative” for India.
In his address at an event held at Manekshaw Centre here, Gen Chauhan also said that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan used unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10.
“But none of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure. Most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Some of them could be recovered in almost intact conditions,” he said.
The CDS emphasised that Operation Sindoor has “shown us as to why indigenously developed UAS and C-UAS built for our terrain and our needs are crucial”.
Emphasising the need for modern warfare technology, he also said, “In today’s warfare, you cannot win with yesterday’s weapon systems. Today’s warfare has to be fought with tomorrow’s technology.” A day-long workshop on ‘Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS’ was hosted by Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, in collaboration with the think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies.
The CDS in his keynote address at the inaugural session said drones are proof of reality, and their widespread utility in recent conflicts demonstrates how drones can shift tactical balance disproportionately to their size or price.
“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.
The CDS emphasised the importance of technology in warfare and underlined the evolutionary phases through which rifles, guns, ammunition and other platforms have gone through to become smaller, more potent, and convenient to use.
“Talk about drones, what you think these are introducing, kind of evolutionary change or a revolutionary change in warfare,” he asked.
“I think their development is kind of evolutionary, but their employment has been very, very revolutionary, as far as warfare is concerned. Initially, their development was for small applications, limited ranges, restricted payloads. As the realisation of their scope of deployment, utility and success increased, the Army started using drones in a revolutionary way,” the CDS asserted.
Underlying the ethos of Atmanirbharta, Gen Chauhan asserted that “we cannot rely on imported niche technologies that are crucial for our offensive and defensive missions; we must invest, build and safeguard ourselves”.
“Dependence on foreign technologies weakens our preparedness, limits our ability to scale up production, results in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability,” he said.
The CDS cautioned that foreign weapons, sensors and their capabilities are known to all, and adversaries can “predict our tactics and doctrinal concepts” based on the capabilities of these systems. “But, if it developed on our own, then an element of surprise can be added…at least in initial encounters.” Military leaders, defence experts, scientists, policymakers and private industry representatives gathered here as part of the workshop-cum-exhibition to develop a “strategic roadmap” for indigenisation, with an overarching aim to reduce dependency on foreign companies for critical UAV and C-UAS components.
“In the rapidly evolving landscape of non-contact warfare, UAVs have emerged as a transformative force. For India, self-reliance in UAVs and C-UAS technologies is not only a strategic imperative, but it is also about empowering itself to chart its destiny, safeguard its interests and seize the opportunities of the future,” the CDS wrote in his message for the workshop.
Operation Sindoor and the learnings from it were the focal points of this workshop, and in the first technical session, many speakers made a reference to it.
India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 with precision strikes on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
The Pakistan military, in retaliation, targeted Indian military installations and civilian areas. India conducted counter-offensives against it and damaged several key air bases of Pakistan, including the Noor Khan base and the Rahim Yar Khan base.
The four-day military conflict came to a halt on May 10 evening after an understanding between the two sides.
Indigenous technology and platforms have played a key role for the Indian military, and the decisive action has given a greater push for self-reliance in the defence sector.
Brigadier Anshuman Narang (retd) made a presentation on ‘Operation Sindoor: Importance of Indigenisation and Lessons Learnt’. He cited the use of drones and counter-drone systems in the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Iran conflict to underline their power driven by technological innovation that can make even large installations vulnerable to their attacks.
A “sophisticated technology cat-and-mouse game” is being played out there, and India will also have to be prepared as “no drone is small to be ignored”, Narang said.
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, in his message for the event, said, “India today stands at a strategic inflection point”. PTI KND KVK KVK
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