The Hindu: Published on 10th June 2025:
Why in News?
Drones have emerged as the centerpiece of modern warfare, seen prominently in India’s Operation Sindoor, Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web, and various global conflicts. These incidents signal a strategic shift in military doctrines, where Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are now frontline weapons rather than support tools.
Background:
Early drone use was mostly for surveillance and reconnaissance.
The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War was a turning point, with Azerbaijan using Israeli-made Harop kamikaze drones to decimate Armenian air defences.
The Russia-Ukraine war and Myanmar conflicts further underscored how cheap, commercially available drones or even 3D-printed drones can play strategic roles.
India, China, and Pakistan have all significantly expanded their drone fleets, both for defense and offense.
Key Issues:
Strategic Shift: Drones are blurring the lines between military-grade and commercial technology, becoming multipliers in asymmetric warfare.
Vulnerability: Drones are susceptible to electronic warfare, jamming, and air defences, making counter-innovation essential.
Supply Chain Challenge: Mass production is needed, yet India’s defence industry lacks surge capacity due to erratic procurement.
Civilian Risk: The ease of weaponising commercial drones poses a threat to civilian and strategic infrastructure, needing a whole-of-government response.
Recent Developments:
India’s Operation Sindoor used drones in a standoff strategy, marking a doctrinal shift.
Ukraine showcased the strategic impact of low-cost, AI-enabled UAVs capable of penetrating deep into enemy lines.
China and Pakistan have formed collaborative drone programmes, increasing pressure on India.
Russia’s drone saturation strategy exposed the vulnerabilities of high-end air defences.
Strategic Implications for India:
Military doctrine: India is integrating drones into offensive operations — a break from their earlier limited use.
Defence preparedness: India must develop resilience through modular and scalable production, especially in the face of possible two-front conflicts.
Industrial capacity: A robust defence industrial base is essential. Current procurement bottlenecks discourage mass production.
Security ecosystem: Beyond defence, internal security agencies must also prepare for drone-based threats from non-state actors.
Challenges:
Building affordable and redundant drone fleets.
Developing multi-layered counter-drone systems.
Balancing innovation with affordability.
Ensuring inter-agency coordination in drone threat management.
Way Forward:
- Institutional support for domestic drone R&D and production.
- Accelerate the adoption of 3D printing and modular design for faster deployment.
- Promote AI integration for autonomous navigation and evasion.
- Involve private sector in defence manufacturing.
- Expand counter-drone training and deployment across paramilitary and internal security forces.
