Air Force Chief AP Singh. | Photo credit: PTI
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief AP Singh on Thursday (May 14, 2026) highlighted the growing role of drones and unmanned systems in modern warfare, saying that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are no longer just surveillance tools but have become offensive assets shaping the future battlefield.
At a joint seminar and exhibition on UAS organized by the Center for Air Power and Strategic Studies and the Indian Military Review, the IAF chief said, “There are no more eyes in the sky, there are claws in the sky now,” highlighting the lethal potential of drones witnessed in recent global conflicts and during Operation Sindoor.
The Air Chief said unmanned systems are an extension of air power and all traditional principles of aerial warfare continue to apply to drone operations. He noted that the battlefield is rapidly evolving from concentrated air power to a more decentralized and autonomous approach.
Calling anti-UAS operations a “cat and mouse game”, ACM Singh stressed that advances in drone technology must be accompanied by improvements in defense systems. “It can’t always be strength versus strength; it has to be strength versus defense and vice versa,” he said.
India’s performance during Operation Sindoor
Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Air Chief said that India has done relatively well due to effective coordination between various defense elements. According to him, none of the enemy’s weapon systems or UAS were able to hit the intended targets during the operation.
He emphasized that drones and anti-drone systems are no longer futuristic concepts, but a current reality transforming military operations around the world. ACM Singh also pointed out that reduced risk to human lives and lower operating costs make drones increasingly attractive to modern armed forces.
The seminar brought together military officials, defense experts and industry stakeholders to discuss emerging trends in drone warfare and the growing importance of indigenous anti-UAS capabilities in India’s defense preparedness.
He added that UAS is always talked about, but unmanned systems in other domains are not talked about enough. “We are moving towards robotic warfare; human life cannot come at a price. Everyone is working on it. We need to innovate at a rate that is relevant because the system has to come before it becomes irrelevant,” he said.
Published – 15 May 2026 22:18 IST
