Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday forcefully argued the case for India to speed up the modernisation of its military. He maintained that imported technologies and weaponry from the past cannot be used to win contemporary wars, and that India needs to move quickly towards accepting indigenous, next-generation defence systems.
Addressing a national workshop on Indigenization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) in New Delhi, General Chauhan highlighted the necessity of having a future-oriented technological leap.
“We can’t win today’s war with yesterday’s weapon systems,” he stated.
India Must Reduce Dependence on Foreign Technology: CDS
Referring to the strategic vulnerability of relying on foreign technology, Chauhan cautioned that dependence on it would compromise India’s preparedness during conflicts.
“Reliance on foreign technology undermines our preparedness,” he warned.
He emphasized that India’s national security would be best secured by self-reliance in key defence sectors, particularly in the face of evolving technologies such as drones, loitering munitions, and counter-drone.
Pakistan Used Drones in Operation Sindoor
Citing Operation Sindoor carried out in May, General Chauhan reported Pakistan using both unarmed drones and loitering munitions along the border. He further reported the Indian armed forces replied strongly employing a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures.
“Majority of them were neutralised through kinetic and non-kinetic channels. None of these UAVs inflicted any damage on Indian military or civilian infrastructure,” he said.
Drones Are Shifting Battlefield Dynamics
General Chauhan emphasized the crucial part that drones are beginning to play in redefining the character of war. He averred that recent wars across the world have shown how drones can overwhelmingly tip tactical balances, and therefore it was important for India to be concerned about the aerial threat.
“Recent wars have demonstrated how drones can disproportionately tilt the balance of tactics. Their deployment is not only an option, it is something we are already confronting,” he described.
Call for Indigenous Innovation and Readiness
The CDS asked India’s defence industry — public and private — to make indigenising drone as well as anti-drone technologies a top priority, providing quicker, scalable, and mission-capable solutions. He also asked stakeholders to invest in innovative R&D and nimble production capabilities.
With escalated drone threats and rising hybrid warfare, General Chauhan’s words convey a clear message: India needs to arm its military not only for today, but tomorrow too.
