Introduction: A New Era of Warfare
India has recognized this changing nature of warfare and
has responded with remarkable strategic foresight. In a major boost to military
preparedness, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh, recently approved defence acquisitions worth
approximately Rs 52,000 crore. The approved projects focus heavily on drone
warfare, anti-drone systems, precision strike capabilities, and indigenous
military technology development under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The character of warfare is undergoing a revolutionary
transformation. The traditional battlefield dominated by tanks, artillery,
fighter aircraft, and infantry formations is rapidly evolving into a
technology-driven combat environment where drones, artificial intelligence,
electronic warfare systems, cyber capabilities, and autonomous weapons are
becoming decisive factors. The Russia-Ukraine War, the Israel-Hamas conflict,
and military operations in the Middle East have demonstrated that low-cost
drones can inflict disproportionate damage on high-value military assets.
Consequently, nations across the world are reassessing their military doctrines
and investing heavily in drone and counter-drone technologies.
These decisions signify India's determination to prepare
its Armed Forces for future wars while simultaneously strengthening indigenous
defence manufacturing capabilities.
Changing Nature of Modern Warfare
For decades, military planners viewed air superiority as
the key to battlefield dominance. However, recent conflicts have revealed that
relatively inexpensive drones can destroy tanks worth millions of dollars,
disrupt logistics networks, attack critical infrastructure, and gather
real-time intelligence.
In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drones have been used
extensively for:
- Reconnaissance
and surveillance.
- Precision
targeting for artillery.
- Direct
attacks on armored vehicles.
- Deep
strikes against strategic targets.
- Maritime
warfare.
The success of drones has altered military thinking
worldwide. Nations are now investing not only in offensive drone capabilities
but also in sophisticated anti-drone systems capable of detecting, tracking,
jamming, and destroying hostile UAVs.
India's latest defence acquisitions must be viewed within
this global context.
Operation Sindoor and India's Drone Warfare
Lessons
India's recent military experiences, particularly during
Operation Sindoor and various border security operations, have reinforced the
importance of unmanned systems. Pakistan-based terrorist groups have repeatedly
attempted to use drones for smuggling weapons, narcotics, explosives, and
surveillance equipment across the border.
Similarly, China's rapid development of drone swarms,
autonomous systems, and electronic warfare capabilities has compelled Indian
military planners to accelerate indigenous technological development.
The lessons are clear:
- Every
soldier may become a target of drone surveillance.
- Every
military installation requires anti-drone protection.
- Future
conflicts will involve swarms of autonomous systems.
- Electronic
warfare will become as important as conventional firepower.
India's recent procurement decisions directly address these
emerging challenges.
AKASH TARANG: India's New Anti-Drone Shield
One of the most significant approvals granted by the DAC is
the procurement of the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Electronic Warfare System
known as AKASH TARANG.
This sophisticated system is designed to:
- Detect
hostile drones.
- Identify
their operating frequencies.
- Track
aerial threats.
- Jam
communication links.
- Neutralize
enemy UAVs before they can strike.
The importance of such systems cannot be overstated. Modern
drones are small, difficult to detect, and often operate at low altitudes.
Conventional air defence systems are not always effective against these
threats.
AKASH TARANG will create a layered defence shield around:
- Military
bases.
- Ammunition
depots.
- Radar
installations.
- Command
headquarters.
- Critical
infrastructure.
This capability will significantly strengthen India's
ability to counter drone attacks from state and non-state actors.
Kamikaze Drones: A Revolutionary Offensive
Capability
Perhaps the most transformative acquisition is the approval
of jet-based kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions.
Unlike conventional drones that return after completing
surveillance missions, kamikaze drones function as both sensor and weapon.
Their operational sequence is simple yet deadly:
1.
Launch from a safe location.
2.
Loiter over the target area.
3.
Search for designated targets.
4.
Dive onto the target.
5.
Destroy themselves along with the objective.
These systems combine the advantages of:
- Precision-guided
missiles.
- Reconnaissance
drones.
- Autonomous
targeting.
The benefits are substantial:
Cost Effectiveness
A kamikaze drone costs significantly less than a cruise
missile while providing comparable precision against tactical targets.
Reduced Risk to Personnel
No pilot is exposed to enemy air defences.
High Precision
They can engage:
- Tanks.
- Artillery
systems.
- Command
posts.
- Air
defence radars.
- Logistics
hubs.
Operational Flexibility
They can remain airborne for extended periods waiting for
targets to appear.
The approval of jet-powered variants further enhances
speed, range, and survivability.
Preparing for Chinese and Pakistani Threats
India faces two nuclear-armed adversaries simultaneously.
China
China has invested heavily in:
- Drone
swarms.
- Artificial
intelligence.
- Autonomous
combat systems.
- Electronic
warfare platforms.
The People's Liberation Army is integrating unmanned
systems into every level of military operations.
Pakistan
Pakistan has increasingly relied on drones for:
- Border
surveillance.
- Terrorist
infiltration support.
- Smuggling
operations.
- Intelligence
gathering.
The combination of AKASH TARANG and offensive drone
capabilities provides India with a credible response to both threats.
MPATGM: Indigenous Tank Killer
Another important acquisition is the Man Portable Anti-Tank
Guided Missile (MPATGM).
This indigenous missile system provides infantry units with
a highly mobile and effective anti-armour capability.
Key advantages include:
- Fire-and-forget
capability.
- High
mobility.
- Precision
targeting.
- Day
and night operation.
In mountainous terrain and urban warfare scenarios, such
systems provide tremendous tactical flexibility.
For Indian soldiers operating along the Line of Actual
Control and the Line of Control, MPATGM represents a major enhancement in
combat effectiveness.
V-SHORADS: Strengthening Air Defence
The acquisition package also includes Very Short Range Air
Defence Systems (V-SHORADS).
Modern battlefields are crowded with:
- Drones.
- Helicopters.
- Low-flying
aircraft.
- Loitering
munitions.
V-SHORADS provide frontline troops with rapid-response air
defence capability.
These systems create the first layer of protection against
aerial threats and complement larger air defence networks such as:
- Akash.
- MR-SAM.
- S-400
systems.
Together, they form a comprehensive air defence
architecture.
Active Protection Systems for Tanks
Recent conflicts have demonstrated the vulnerability of
tanks to:
- Anti-tank
guided missiles.
- Top-attack
munitions.
- Kamikaze
drones.
To address this challenge, India has approved Active
Protection Systems (APS) for tanks.
APS functions by:
- Detecting
incoming threats.
- Tracking
their trajectory.
- Launching
countermeasures.
- Destroying
threats before impact.
This technology dramatically improves the survivability of
armoured formations on future battlefields.
Indian Navy and Maritime Drone Warfare
The maritime domain is equally important.
The Indian Navy has been cleared to procure Naval Shipborne
Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS).
These advanced systems will enhance:
- Maritime
surveillance.
- Target
identification.
- Anti-piracy
operations.
- Exclusive
Economic Zone monitoring.
- Fleet
situational awareness.
The Indian Ocean Region is becoming increasingly contested
due to growing Chinese naval activity.
Unmanned systems will enable the Indian Navy to maintain
continuous surveillance over vast oceanic areas while reducing operational
costs.
Atmanirbhar Bharat and Defence Self-Reliance
The most significant aspect of these acquisitions is their
alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
For decades, India remained one of the world's largest
importers of military equipment. Dependence on foreign suppliers often resulted
in:
- Delays.
- High
costs.
- Technology
restrictions.
- Operational
vulnerabilities.
Today, India is pursuing a fundamentally different
strategy.
The focus is on:
- Indigenous
research.
- Domestic
production.
- Technology
transfer.
- Export
capability.
Major Indian defence companies are playing a critical role.
These include:
- Bharat
Electronics Limited
- Bharat
Dynamics Limited
- Adani
Defence & Aerospace
Alongside these large enterprises, hundreds of Indian
start-ups are contributing innovative solutions in:
- Artificial
intelligence.
- Robotics.
- Autonomous
systems.
- Electronic
warfare.
- Drone
technologies.
Economic Benefits Beyond National Security
Defence manufacturing is not merely a security imperative;
it is also an economic opportunity.
The defence sector creates:
- High-skilled
employment.
- Technology
innovation.
- Export
earnings.
- Industrial
growth.
Defence corridors established in states such as Uttar
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are attracting substantial investments.
As indigenous production expands, India can emerge as a
major exporter of:
- Drones.
- Missiles.
- Electronic
warfare systems.
- Naval
platforms.
- Aerospace
technologies.
This transformation supports the government's broader
vision of making India a global manufacturing hub.
The Future Battlefield: Artificial Intelligence
and Autonomous Warfare
The latest acquisitions are only the beginning.
Future warfare will increasingly involve:
- Artificial
intelligence-enabled drones.
- Autonomous
weapon systems.
- Drone
swarms.
- Cyber
warfare.
- Space-based
surveillance.
- Electronic
warfare.
India's defence planners are clearly preparing for this
reality.
The integration of offensive drones, anti-drone systems,
advanced missiles, and indigenous manufacturing demonstrates a holistic
approach to military modernization.
The emphasis is no longer merely on acquiring weapons but
on building a self-reliant technological ecosystem capable of sustaining
long-term military superiority.
Conclusion
The Defence Acquisition Council's approval of projects
worth Rs 52,000 crore represents far more than a routine procurement exercise.
It marks a strategic shift in India's approach to national security and
military modernization.
The acquisition of AKASH TARANG anti-drone systems,
jet-powered kamikaze drones, MPATGM missiles, V-SHORADS, Active Protection
Systems, and advanced naval unmanned platforms demonstrates that India is
preparing for the wars of the future rather than the wars of the past.
Equally important, these acquisitions reinforce the vision
of Atmanirbhar Bharat by promoting indigenous defence manufacturing,
technological innovation, and strategic self-reliance.
As drones, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems
redefine military power in the twenty-first century, India is taking decisive
steps to ensure that its Armed Forces remain technologically advanced,
operationally effective, and capable of safeguarding national interests against
evolving threats. The message is clear: India is not merely adapting to the
future battlefield—it is actively shaping its place within it through
self-reliance, innovation, and strategic preparedness
