Why in the News?

India’s Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, marks a significant shift in the country’s use of drones in combat.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Drone Warfare (Background, Global Evolution, India’s Strategic Shift, Enhancing Drone Resilience, Operational & Industrial Implications)

Introduction

• India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, marks a turning point in the country’s adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in active combat.
• This represents a broader strategic shift toward using drones not just for surveillance but also for standoff offensive missions, aligning with global military innovations in modern warfare.
• From the battlefields of Nagorno-Karabakh to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, drones have emerged as force multipliers, redefining the nature of aerial combat and offering lessons for India’s evolving military posture.

The Global Evolution of Drone Warfare

• The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict of 2020 showcased the use of loitering munitions or “kamikaze drones”, such as Israel’s Harop, to systematically destroy enemy air defences.
• Ukraine has since become a live testbed for drone warfare innovation, producing a diverse array of UAVs to achieve tactical superiority.
• Notably, Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web demonstrated how low-cost drones, paired with innovative strategies, can cause significant damage to high-value targets like Russia’s long-range bomber fleet.
• Even in Myanmar, rebel groups are now using 3D-printed drones to challenge a superior conventional force.

India’s Strategic Shift: Learning from Conflict Zones

• In this global context, India is reforming its military doctrines to integrate drone warfare more fully.
• Operation Sindoor’s use of UAVs along with standoff weaponry adds a layer of ambiguity and asymmetry to India's military toolkit, particularly vis-à-vis Pakistan.
• However, India’s preparedness must also account for the growing drone capabilities of adversaries.
• China’s advanced systems, such as the Soaring Dragon, BZK-005, and Wing Loong II, combined with swarm-capable kamikaze drones like CH-901, present a complex challenge along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Pakistan, too, is enhancing its drone arsenal with Chinese and Turkish support, complicating India’s threat matrix. These developments call for a more agile and robust defence infrastructure on India's part.

Enhancing Drone Resilience and Survivability

• Drones, while transformative, remain vulnerable to electronic warfare, radar jamming, and air defence systems.
• To address this, India is deploying multi-layered counter-UAV technologies, including both soft-kill (electronic jamming) and hard-kill (physical interception)
• These systems played a pivotal role in countering Pakistani drone incursions during recent border hostilities.
• However, survivability in contested environments demands further innovation. Techniques such as frequency hopping, low-altitude navigation, AI-based machine vision, and fibre-optic tethering (as used in Ukraine) enhance drone resilience.
• Mass deployment of drones, including decoys, can also overwhelm enemy radar systems, as seen in Russia’s use of Shahed drones against Ukraine.

The Blurring Line Between Military and Commercial Drones

• The distinction between military-grade and commercial drones is rapidly eroding.
• Commercial UAVs, equipped with open-source software and modular payloads, offer cost-effective and scalable options for militaries worldwide.
• These systems are easier to acquire, modify, and deploy, opening up a new chapter in asymmetric warfare.
• India, like others, is exploring indigenous manufacturing and 3D-printing technologies to rapidly scale drone production.
• The accessibility of commercial drones, however, also increases risks of their misuse by non-state actors and terrorist outfits. Hence, internal security agencies must be equipped with counter-drone capabilities alongside the military.

Operational and Industrial Implications for India

• India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) has demonstrated effectiveness in coordinating air defence responses.
• However, the need for “magazine depth”, a sufficient stockpile of munitions like MR-SAMs, Akash, and loitering munitions, remains critical in the event of prolonged conflict.
• A significant takeaway from Ukraine is the value of a robust, responsive defence industrial base.
• For India to sustain its drone ambitions, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) must streamline procurement processes, address demand uncertainties, and incentivise domestic manufacturers to scale up.
• Without structural reform in defence procurement, India risks falling short of operational needs in a fast-paced modern conflict.