Indian Air Force chief ACM AP Singh (File photo)
New Delhi: Indian Air Force chief ACM AP Singh has delivered one of the clearest statements yet on how the IF intends to reshape its warfighting doctrine around drone technology, warning that militaries that treat unmanned systems as a future investment rather than a present necessity are already behind.
Speaking at the CAPSS-IMR Joint Seminar at the Air Force Auditorium in New Delhi, ACM AP Singh said drones, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and counter-UAS technologies are here today and represent a reality, not something for the future.
There is no denying that the battlefield has shifted. “We are moving away from concentrated air power to a more decentralized and autonomous approach,” Singh said, adding that unmanned systems must be understood as an extension of air power, rather than a separate domain.
His remarks carry weight at a moment when India is absorbing hard lessons from conflicts elsewhere. The wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East have demonstrated that low-cost drones can degrade expensive, high-end military assets at a fraction of the cost, fundamentally altering the calculus of both offense and defence.
The IAF chief acknowledged this directly, noting that reduced risk to human lives and lower procurement costs are what make unmanned platforms very attractive. Drones possess all the intrinsic qualities of air power. That has to be understood.
The air chief’s most pointed assertion was that unmanned systems succeed precisely because they embody the same core attributes that have defined air power for over a century: speed, reach, height, and the ability to project force beyond the adversary’s immediate response. They possess all the intrinsic qualities of air power, he said. That has to be understood.
Singh also sketched the direction in which the IAF plans to evolve its operational thinking. “The future is manned and unmanned teaming, using both options together,” he said, a formulation that aligns broadly with where the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and other advanced military services are investing heavily.
Doctrine catching up with technology
The IAF has in recent years accelerated its engagement with domestic and foreign drone manufacturers. India’s Defence Acquisition Council has cleared several drone-related procurement programmes, including armed unmanned aerial vehicles and high-altitude long-endurance platforms.
The government’s ‘Make in India’ push has also encouraged domestic firms such as Ideaforge, Alpha Design Technologies, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop indigenous drone capabilities.
The seminar
The CAPSS-IMR Joint Seminar convened by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the Institute for Military Research brought together serving officers, defence analysts, and technology specialists to examine the evolving role of unmanned systems in modern warfare.
His comments reflect a broader rethink within the Indian armed forces about how to fight future wars.
