Drones are reshaping the way conflicts are fought. The Russo-Ukrainian conflict has demonstrated the devastation caused by these unmanned systems. The Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) organised a seminar on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Senior officials from the military and the industry attended the event.
As the Ministry of Defence marks ‘Year of Reforms’, both the armed forces and the industry are working together to solve problems both of today and of the future. Drones are said to be at the centre of the current technology-led Revolution of Military Affairs (RMA).
The supremacy of these unmanned systems in Ukraine has made this otherwise conventional conflict unconventional. Just like the machine gun had forced the combatants of the Great War into the trenches, the drone has had a similar effect on the ongoing conflict. Moreover, the UAS is playing the role of the aeroplane and in some cases (precision) artillery.
The Indian Armed Forces are investing heavily in these new systems. It is reported that the forces spent as much as $420 million by the middle of last year to procure over 2,000 drones last year. These drones perform different types of roles, such as reconnaissance, delivering logistics and other tactical operations.
The Indian Air Force has recently launched the Weapons Systems Branch. This branch is tasked with handling unmanned systems along with other types of assets such as surface-to-surface and surface-to-air guided weapons. The Indian Army and the Navy, too, are continuously working to integrate UAS into their existing units for both offensive and defensive operations.
The forces are looking at the domestic industry as a provider for these platforms. Ongoing conflicts have stressed the importance of self-reliance in defence. The relationship between the forces and the industry is now evolving into a partnership.
The demand for these unmanned systems is only expected to grow and the industry would now be expected to both innovate, develop and produce systems which will keep our forces abreast with global leaders in the field.
Team Bharatshakti
