Seamless Manned-Unmanned Systems Shape Modern Battlefield
New Delhi: Highlighting the lessons learnt from ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Indian Air Force Chief A P Singh on Friday said drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are no longer merely “eyes in the sky” but have become “claws in the sky”, significantly altering the nature of modern warfare.
Addressing a seminar on unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS at Subroto Park here, the Air Chief Marshal said, “Recent conflicts, including Operation Sindoor, demonstrated the growing offensive role of drones and the need for integrated air defence systems and real-time coordination among the armed forces.”
“We have realised during Operation Sindoor that these systems are no more eyes in the sky. They are like claws in the sky now,” he said.
Referring to the nearly four-day conflict during Operation Sindoor, Singh said India’s success in neutralising incoming drones and weapons systems was possible because of coordination and a centralised command structure.
According to the IAF chief, none of the adversary’s drones or weapons systems hit their intended targets during the operation as Indian forces operated in an integrated manner.
Singh said modern battlefields were shifting from concentrated air power to decentralised and autonomous systems, making drones and counter-drone technologies increasingly relevant.
“There is no denying that the battlefield has shifted,” he said, adding that the future of warfare lies in manned and unmanned teaming.
“You cannot take man out of the loop completely. Maybe not in the loop, but at least on the loop,” he said.
The Air Chief Marshal also underlined the importance of complete domain awareness in aerial warfare and warned against the dangers of friendly fire incidents in the absence of coordination. “We cannot afford situations where we do not know where our people are and where others are,” he said, referring to the recent downing of US F-15E Strike Eagles over Kuwait in an apparent friendly fire incident.
On the challenge posed by low-cost drones, Singh said counter-UAS systems also needed to become affordable and scalable. “We have been hearing about low-cost attacks and high-cost defence. If attacking systems can be scaled up because of their low cost, obviously we need something we can afford,” he said.
At the same time, he said the value of the target being protected must also be considered while evaluating defence costs.
The IAF chief stressed the need for faster innovation in military technology and cautioned against delays in defence research and development.
“It is better to have 85 to 90 per cent capability in time than wait for 100 per cent capability after it loses relevance,” he said.
The seminar was co-hosted by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies and Indian Military Review
