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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 highlighted the growing importance of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in modern warfare and called for a unified effort to boost indigenous innovation in the sector.
Speaking at an event at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Air Marshal Dixit said that the strategic value of UAVs has gained widespread attention, 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 noted.
#WATCH | Delhi: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit says, “This drone thing has been live for a very long time, but after Operation Sindoor’s success, suddenly it has caught attention and a large number of debates are happening, and we are going deeper and deeper into this aspect. The… pic.twitter.com/GP9aylj8ny— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2025
He pointed to the increasing use of drone technology in global conflicts, including in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Russia. However, he also underlined a key concern, much of the drone technology currently in use in India relies heavily on imported components.
“Drone have added a new dimension in warfare,” Air Marshal Dixit stressed, but noted that in recent years, many of the components used in them have been sourced from abroad.
Air Marshal Dixit called for coordinated efforts from the armed forces, civil authorities, scientific bodies, industry, and academic institutions. He stressed the need to “aggregate demands” and work together towards building strong indigenous capabilities.
“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, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also addressed the workshop and emphasised the need to modernise India’s defence systems.
CDS Chauhan noted that “today’s warfare has to be fought with tomorrow’s technology,” underlining that relying on outdated weapons is no longer an option.
“Can’t win today’s warfare with yesterday’s weapon systems; today’s warfare has to be fought with tomorrow’s technology,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff also 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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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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