Gen Chauhan Emphasizes Indigenous Drone Development for Strategic Superiority

New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan emphasized the critical role of drones in modern warfare, noting their ability to disproportionately shift tactical balances. He highlighted the strategic necessity for India to achieve self-reliance in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).

Speaking at an event at the Manekshaw Centre, Gen Chauhan referred to experiences from Operation Sindoor, underlining the importance of developing indigenous Unmanned Aerial Systems and C-UAS tailored to India's specific terrain and needs.

In a day-long workshop titled 'Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS,' organized by Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (HQ-IDS) alongside the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, the focus was on reducing dependency on foreign technology.

This event echoed the situation following recent India-Pakistan hostilities, such as Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated the tactical relevance of UAVs and C-UAS. Gen Chauhan, in his keynote at the initial session, stressed how the utility of drones in recent conflicts shows a significant impact despite their relatively small size or cost.

"Asymmetric drone warfare challenges large platforms, pushing military strategies to evolve in air doctrines, C-UAS development, and engagement tactics," he noted.

During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan deployed unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10, which were effectively countered, with no damage inflicted on Indian military or civilian infrastructure. Gen Chauhan explained that these threats were neutralized through various kinetic and non-kinetic means, with some drones recovered nearly intact.

Highlighting the lessons from Operation Sindoor, he stressed the necessity of indigenous systems designed for local needs. Adhering to the principle of Atmanirbharta, Gen Chauhan argued against reliance on imported technologies crucial for offensive and defensive operations.

"Such reliance diminishes our state of readiness, hampers production scalability, and causes critical spare shortages, affecting our operations' constant availability," he concluded.