By Chaitali Bag
The landscape of modern warfare is in perpetual flux, shaped by rapid advancements in technology, innovative practices, and evolving geopolitical realities. Within this transformative environment, the readiness and future preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces assume paramount importance. Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (CD&S), Indian Army, in a recent landmark address, underscored the necessity for immediate and forward-looking readiness, particularly emphasizing the integration of multiple technologies and innovations such as unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), autonomous systems, and indigenously developed platforms. This essay explores the Indian military’s drive toward technological self-reliance, the fostering of a robust defence ecosystem, and the multifaceted collaboration between the armed forces, industry, and policymakers to secure India’s future in the emerging paradigms of warfare.
The Imperative of Technological Integration in Indian Defence
Warfare in the 21st century is no longer restricted to conventional battlefields. The emergence of hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems have not only raised the threshold of complexity but have also necessitated a wholesale re-evaluation of military doctrines and operational capabilities. Recognizing this, Lt Gen Singh highlighted the acute need for the Indian Armed Forces to be both “ready now and future-ready,” prepared for all five generations of warfare—from traditional kinetic engagements to operations in the information and cognitive domains.
Central to this transformation is the burgeoning demand for drones and unmanned systems. Drones, with their dual-use nature, represent a confluence of military and civilian technologies, enabling applications that span from surveillance and logistics to precision strikes and disaster management. The Indian Army’s active collaboration with the Ministry of Defence for the establishment of a comprehensive drone framework—set for rollout by September-October 2025—marks a substantive policy shift. This framework aims to incentivize domestic production, streamline testing protocols, mitigate vulnerabilities, and provide a roadmap for the integration of unmanned systems within the defence apparatus.
Ecosystem Development: The Call for Civil-Military Fusion
A sustainable and resilient defence ecosystem is the bedrock for enduring military effectiveness. Lt Gen Singh’s call for a thriving ecosystem for drones encompasses not just production, but the entire value chain, including research and development (R&D), testing, and quality assurance. The vision is clear: Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence is not merely a choice but an absolute necessity. India must guard against dependencies that might make its security vulnerable to supply chain disruptions or technological embargoes.
Industries have played, and must continue to play, a decisive role in this quest for self-reliance. The Indian defence industry is on the cusp of a technological inflection point, stimulated not only by necessity but also by a uniquely Indian ambition—to achieve Viksit Bharat (developed India) status by 2047 and to reach a $30 trillion economy. As highlighted by industry leaders at the FICCI conference, national strategic assets such as Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) companies must be recognized, protected, and nurtured. Collaborative ventures, especially those investing at the component level of R&D, are essential for enhancing innovation and ensuring the rapid translation of technological breakthroughs into deployable military capabilities.
Standards, Testing, and Procurement: Transforming the Defence Paradigm
Emerging technologies demand robust standards, comprehensive testing, and swift procurement cycles to ensure operational effectiveness and mission success. Lt Gen Singh’s emphasis on expanding testing facilities and instituting uniform standards will address a foundational challenge in defence procurement—long drawn cycles that often lag behind technological progress. Speed and quality assurance in defence acquisition are non-negotiable; they ensure that soldiers enter battle equipped with the latest, most reliable systems without sacrificing safety or efficacy.
Strategic Imperatives for India Amid Growing Pakistan-China-Turkey Military Collaboration: Insights from Lt Gen Rahul R Singh’s Address
During the event, Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), articulated significant concerns regarding the strengthening military collaboration among Pakistan, China, and Turkey. His address spotlighted the urgent need for India to adapt its defence capabilities in response to evolving threats demonstrated during Operation Sindoor. Lt Gen Singh’s remarks offer critical insights into the emerging strategic landscape and underscore the imperative for India to accelerate its air defence and technological progression.
One of the most disquieting revelations made by Lt Gen Singh was the extent of real-time intelligence sharing between China and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The Deputy COAS confirmed that Pakistan’s situational awareness on the battlefield was enabled by seamless intelligence feeds from China. As he recounted, Pakistan’s confidence during DGMO-level talks was bolstered by up-to-the-minute updates on India’s critical force deployments, information transmitted directly by their Chinese counterparts. This phenomenon exemplifies a new era of adversarial coordination, where technological integration and rapid information flow can yield considerable tactical and strategic advantages. Such developments diminish the opacity that once served as a buffer in high-stakes military contests and portend a more complex and unpredictable threat environment for India.
The role of Turkey in the conflict added another dimension to this multifaceted challenge. Lt Gen Singh detailed how Turkey’s provision of Bayraktar drones and unmanned aerial systems, coupled with technical personnel on the ground, augmented Pakistan’s military capacity. The increasing prominence of drones and advanced robotics on the battlefield not only escalates the tempo of modern conflict but also complicates traditional defence paradigms. Turkey’s willingness to supply both hardware and expertise to Pakistan’s arsenal alludes to an emerging coalition, intent on leveraging technology to offset India’s conventional advantages.
Lt Gen Singh’s address laid bare the magnitude of equipment collaboration between Pakistan and China, with 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware reportedly originating from China. This relationship, he warned, effectively turns Pakistan into a ‘live laboratory’ for the testing and validation of Chinese military technology under combat conditions. Such symbiosis grants China invaluable data and operational experience, feeding back into its own defence innovation pipelines and potentially creating more potent challenges for India in future confrontations.
Reflecting on the lessons of Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Singh underscored the pivotal role of air defence and the particular threat posed by aerial platforms, including drones and precision-guided munitions. While population centres were not the primary targets during the last episode, the Deputy COAS cautioned that future adversarial action might not exercise such restraint. This heightens the urgency for India to build robust, multi-layered, and technologically sophisticated air defence systems, not only to safeguard military assets but also to protect civilian populations.
Lt Gen Singh also highlighted the efficacy of India’s approach to precision strikes, where both technological and human intelligence were synergistically employed for optimal target selection. Such integration enhances operational effectiveness and amplifies strategic messaging, signalling India’s capability and resolve to both its adversaries and its own citizenry.
Furthermore, the tri-services approach adopted by the Indian military during the operation was lauded as a key element of escalation control and conflict management. By demonstrating joint readiness and operational integration, India was able to shape the trajectory of the confrontation, ensuring that military action remained tightly coupled with strategic objectives and avoided unintended escalation.
In his concluding remarks, Lt Gen Singh aptly noted the inherent risks in modern warfare, particularly the ease with which conflict can begin versus the challenge of bringing it to a controlled resolution. His assertion that the Indian leadership’s decision to conclude Operation Sindoor at a strategic juncture was a masterstroke, reflects the necessity of prudence, agility, and clarity in command decision-making.
Beyond this, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff’s advice to industry—focus on the “4 Cs” of cooperate, collaborate, compete, but not complain—encapsulates a forward-thinking doctrine. Rather than seeing themselves as separate entities, industry and the armed forces must be viewed as symbiotic partners. It is the combined force of well-equipped soldiers and cutting-edge industry that will dictate victory in future wars, not the efforts of either side in isolation.
Lt Gen Singh’s address is a clarion call for India’s defence establishment. The nexus between Pakistan, China, and Turkey, underpinned by technological collaboration, real-time intelligence sharing, and the proliferation of unmanned systems, represents a formidable challenge. To preserve strategic autonomy and deterrence capability, India must invest resolutely in advanced air defence technologies, enhance inter-service integration, and adopt a forward-looking approach to emerging threats. The lessons of Operation Sindoor serve as both a warning and a guidepost for the future trajectory of Indian defence preparedness.
Unmanned and Autonomous Systems: Charting the Future
Unmanned and autonomous systems are rapidly becoming the fulcrum around which future military operations will revolve. As observed by Mr. Vinod Sahay of FICCI and Mahindra & Mahindra, these platforms minimize the risk to human life while exponentially increasing operational capabilities across air, land, sea, and now, underwater domains. Such systems will dominate reconnaissance, logistics, and even direct combat scenarios, driving an irreversible shift in the way conflicts are fought and resolved.
For India, this presents both an immense opportunity and a formidable challenge. Indigenous industry, backed by enabling policy, must accelerate its pace of innovation to stay ahead of adversaries and rapidly evolving threats. Strategic partnerships—both between Indian companies and through selective global alliances—will be crucial in accessing advanced components, transferring knowledge, and scaling up production.
Geopolitical Realities and a Culture of Innovation
Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla’s observations on the increasing intensity and complexity of contemporary conflicts resonate with India’s national security calculus. The country’s dynamic threat environment, on account of its unique geopolitical positioning and regional challenges, means that technological inferiority is not a risk India can afford. Hence, a culture of continuous innovation, driven by both ambition and necessity, must be institutionalized.
The pursuit of Atmanirbharta in the defence sector is intrinsically tied to the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat. As Jyoti Vij, Director General of FICCI, articulated, a robust, self-reliant defence capability is not just a strategic imperative but a precondition for India’s aspirational leadership on the global stage.
Forging a Future-Ready Defence Force
The Indian Armed Forces stand at a decisive crossroads. The path ahead demands not only an embrace of new age military technologies but a comprehensive recalibration of defence industrial policy, processes, and partnerships. The establishment of frameworks to accelerate the adoption of drones, the creation of testing and quality assurance infrastructure, the nurturing of indigenous enterprises, and the institutionalization of a results-driven, collaborative ethos between military and industry are essential steps.
Readiness for today’s challenges and preparedness for tomorrow’s uncertainties cannot be achieved in silos. It is the synergistic convergence of the soldier’s courage, the scientist’s ingenuity, the industrialist’s innovation, and the policymaker’s vision that will secure India’s national interests and propel it to the forefront of global military powers. The coming decade, thus, will be defined not only by what the Indian Armed Forces can fight with, but by how swiftly and ingeniously they adapt—and lead—in the age of technological warfare.
