'A New Dimension In Warfare': Integrated Defence Staff Chief Pushes For Indigenous Drones

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 21:27 IST

Air Marshal Dixit stressed that while drones have added a "new dimension in warfare", much of the technology currently used relies on components from abroad

News18

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Wednesday stressed on the growing importance of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in modern warfare and called for a unified push towards indigenous innovation.

Speaking at an event at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Air Marshal Dixit spoke on the growing importance of UAVs, stating that their strategic significance has become widely recognised, especially after the success of Operation Sindoor.

“After Operation Sindoor’s success… The strategic significance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) has suddenly become known to each and every child in India," he said.

Air Marshal Dixit pointed out that drone technology is now a major topic of discussion, not just in India but globally, with extensive use seen in regions like the Middle East, Ukraine, and Russia.

He further stressed that while drones have added a “new dimension in warfare", much of the technology currently used relies on components from abroad. “What we have been seeing in the last few years of drone usage is that a lot of components were coming from outside."

The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff called for a united effort from the military, civil authorities, industry, scientific organisations, and academic institutions to aggregate demands and focus on indigenous innovation.

“Industry has to do innovation and innovation and innovation. All scientific organisations have to contribute to indigenous military capability and they have to continue to help us and the academy has to do foundational research," he added.

Earlier in the day at the same event, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also stressed the urgent need to modernise weapon systems. He said that “today’s warfare has to be fought with tomorrow’s technology," underlining that relying on outdated weapons is no longer an option.

Chauhan praised the use of indigenous weapons in Operation Sindoor and urged greater investment in domestic defence production. He warned that dependence on imported technology weakens India’s preparedness and called for reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical technologies.

The event, a one-day workshop organised by the Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, saw large-scale participation from the defence industry and startups. The workshop included displays and demonstrations of adaptive solutions in an exhibition.

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