Wars in Ukraine, West Asia, and closer home, “Op Sindoor” have been dominated by use of air power. Aerospace has become the most preferred means of prosecution of war and has seen the fastest evolution since WW II. Recent wars have highlighted the importance of cheaper drones, air defence systems, and innovative exploitation of platforms and weapon systems. Clearly, aerial technologies are reshaping future wars.
The continued need for air and space superiority to allow favourable prosecution of air, surface, and sub-surface operations remains underscored. Combat aircraft have become more agile, with characteristics of high speed and manoeuvrability, delivered with greater efficiency. Aerial platforms have become stealthier, and support low-observable sensors that can see and sense farther. Aircraft can carry and deliver very long-range air-to-air and air-to-surface precision weapons. The aircraft’s ability to operate in an intense electronic warfare environment has increased.
Nearly 50 percent of all forms of platform-related expenditure since WW II have been on fighter aircraft. Ships, submarines, and tanks are distant away. Integrated sensors across platforms coupled with secure data-linked communications have allowed the system-of-systems approach. Artificial Intelligence (AI) supports speedier decision-making and weapon and platform autonomy. Cyber warfare and electronic warfare are seeing a greater role. It is time to know if the Indian Air Force (IAF) is future-ready.
IAF and Next Generation Fighters
The next-generation aircraft have to be designed for a highly contested and well-defended environment. The combat engagements will be at very long ranges. Platforms that can “see first, shoot first, and destroy first”, and yet are survivable. They will be multi-role, and carry weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-surface targets. Aircraft should be able to act as mother-ships or controllers in a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) mix. Aircraft will be closely integrated and securely data-linked with other platforms in space, air, and on the surface.
Aircraft will require all-hemisphere situational awareness, allowing comprehensive threat assessments and response options. Futuristic avionics will include agile advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, and passive data-linked sensors. Stealth will be inbuilt in the airframe design through advanced shaping. The conformal weapon bays will carry very long-range weapons. Weapons will have an increased degree of post-launch autonomy. Enhanced on-board power generation will support powerful electronic warfare systems and directed energy weapons (DEW).
India is still struggling at LCA Mk1A stage. LCA Mk2 will, at best, be closer to Rafale and needs to be accelerated. India will have to push the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and, as it grows, imbibe some 6th-generation technologies. India is at 29 fighter squadrons vis-à-vis an authorised 42.5. It must quickly finalise the private partner for the AMCA program. While India pushes its indigenous fighters, to make good the large shortfall, the IAF should acquire 114 latest variants of Rafale “make-in-India” fighters to maintain continuity and avoid adding another fleet. It may also add a few squadrons of Russian Su-57 5th-generation aircraft with transfer of technology as an interim measure.
Advanced Air Defence
Long-range air defence systems will keep the enemy air at a distance and achieve air denial, as was seen during “Op Sindoor.” S-400-class indigenous “Kusha” AD system needs to be accelerated. The advanced Akash-NG, with an air-breathing solid ramjet engine and an increased range of 70–80 km, needs hastening. Bhargavastra multi-layer micro-missile Anti-Drone/Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), designed and developed by the Indian private sector company Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, needs early induction.
Transport and Helicopter Platforms
While the IAF has an adequate transport aircraft fleet, it is time for India to develop its own cargo aircraft and regional jet. Time to unfold a roadmap for the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA). Similarly, India has a decent-sized helicopter fleet, but Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) needs to resolve design and production quality issues of ALH variants. Development of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) needs to be hastened. Also, the Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH) needs a serious push.
Force Multipliers
For the continental size of the country, the number of Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) and Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms are highly inadequate. While the roadmap has been spelt out, the pace has to be accelerated for both Netra Mk1 and Netra Mk2. Satellite-based ISR, navigation, and targeting capabilities have to go up. NavIC must be operationalized quickly. There is a need to develop jet-powered stealth HALE UAVs for ISTAR, EW, and armed strike missions.
Aerial Weapons and Self-Protection
Future missiles will have long-range detection, cruise farther, and have high no-escape zones. Major countries are pushing advanced hypersonic weapon programs. Future weapons will shoot down incoming air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. New turret systems will allow high-energy lasers to engage enemy aircraft and missiles. Stand-alone high-energy laser weapon pods are being designed. These could daze or burn electronics of other airborne platforms. Hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs) have already been used in combat in Ukraine. Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) and HCMs will bring game-changing vulnerabilities to strategic targets and large ships and aircraft carriers. Large platforms like the AEW&C and FRA will be kept farther away from tactical areas by long-range missiles. Meanwhile, explore Counter-Hypersonic solutions.
India’s Astra Mk-1 (110 km) AAM is operational. Mk-2 (160 km) is under induction. The very long range (VLRAAM) Mk-3 will have a range of over 300 km. The air-launched BrahMos missile (500 km) has been integrated on the Su-30MKI. Longer-range variants are evolving. The hypersonic version, BrahMos-II, is under testing. Future variants will have ranges up to 1,500 km. India needs to accelerate its weapons development. The IAF must build larger inventories.
Drones, Uninhabited Aerial Systems (UAS), Loitering Munitions and Counters
Drones and UAS are already flying in large numbers. Optionally manned aircraft are evolving. Autonomous UAS are operating from aircraft carriers. The next-generation UAS will be able to take on ISR, surface strike, air defence, aerial refuelling, and air delivery. Swarms could overwhelm defences by sheer numbers. Aerial drone swarms have been repeatedly demonstrated, including by Indian manufacturers. Loitering munitions inventories are going up. Drone counters using small arms, electro-optical weapons (lasers), data-link jamming, electronic or cyber-attack, are evolving. A drone swarm may be engaged by a counter-drone swarm.
MUM-T will exploit the advantage of the human in the loop with the strength of numbers to take on well-defended target systems. A large number of Indian companies are engaged in UAV and drone manufacture. HAL is working on MUM-T. The same needs acceleration.
Airborne Radars in High ECM Environment
Modern AESA radars will be required to operate in heavy Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM) environments. In order to reduce the size, weight, power consumption, and cost of AESA radars, small computer-controlled solid-state transmit/receive modules (TRMs) are put together in an array, using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. 2AESA’s beam-forming and steering agility will permit better tracking of very fast supersonic cruise missiles and aircraft. AESA radars are also used in missiles for the same reason. To reduce spectrum congestion, many applications have moved beyond 20 GHz. Millimetre-wave radars can give much better resolution because of ultra-wide bandwidths, lower ground clutter, and they also give the benefit of smaller size. Gallium Nitride (GaN) power transistors can operate at higher power levels and frequencies, more efficiently. Future radars will have lower power sectorial emissions and, thus, would be electronically stealthy. India’s Uttam AESA radar is evolving well. Finally, India will have an indigenous radar even for the Su-30 MKI.
Passive Stealthy Sensors
Passive systems like the Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) do not radiate and, as such, don’t expose own location, and are considered counter-stealth technology. However, IR systems are susceptible to weather and atmospheric phenomena. The detection range (100 km) is currently much lower than radar. Evolving universal podded IRST gives flexibility to match the sensors to the mission quickly. Future sensors will be more sensitive, with greater range, and use advanced image processing technology. New-generation dual-band IR detectors are based on Quantum Well IR Photodetectors (QWIP). Multiple Aperture IR (MAIR) will mean many IR sensors around the aircraft for all-hemisphere detection. It will also act as a missile warner. India has a long way to go on passive sensors, albeit some work is going on.
Aircraft Diagnostics and Repair
High mission rates are possible through better online aircraft health monitoring. Aircraft systems are connected in real time to the fleet databases through secure communications. Advanced data-processing incorporates fault diagnostics using AI. Technology allows predictive maintenance solutions. Online real-time monitoring reduces turnaround maintenance time, and improves aircraft utilisation rate. It could, in the long run, reduce the life-cycle cost. With greater usage of composites and self-healing materials, quicker repairs have become possible and save time. Robots will support aircraft inspection and maintenance tasks. Newer systems have redundancies and are designed for low mean time between failures (MTBF) to ensure maximum airtime and minimum logistics requirements. Indian companies are working on this.
Aero-engine Technology
Future engine technologies must support a reduced development cycle, reduce engine weight, improve engine propulsive efficiency and specific fuel consumption (SFC), improve reliability and maintainability, and reduce life-cycle costs. New materials will be lighter and withstand higher temperatures. Fully computer-controlled “smart engines” and use of magnetic bearings will also improve engine operations. Additive 3D manufacturing will reduce production and maintenance time and cost. Aero-engines will be versatile, flight-phase adaptive, more fuel-efficient, and feature thrust-vectoring, in-built super-cruise, and allow longer ranges and higher performance. Bio-fuels will be increasingly used. The future will see increased use of electrical power for aircraft propulsion and various subsystems.
Developing an indigenous aero-engine is a core area for India’s ‘Atmanirbharta’ (Self-Reliance) in defence. There are a handful of global manufacturers who do not easily part with technology. Joint ventures (JV) are the best option forward for India. It must exploit the large domestic market. DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is now likely to join Safran of France to develop an indigenous fighter engine of 120 kN class. India will have the intellectual property rights (IPR). Small engines are also required for cruise missiles and UAVs. India must also invest in electric and hybrid engines.
Secure Communications and Electronic Technologies
5G and 6G telecommunications networks will be crucial for aviation design and on-board data handling. They will also be crucial for satellite and ground-based communications. This will also involve the beaming of millimetre-length microwaves at the Earth from a large number of new communication satellites. These speeds will also be required for cyber security. Imported electronic hardware of the aircraft could be a high risk, with embedded chips. Indigenisation is very important. Similarly, the electronic warfare equipment has to be home-developed. Microchips are required for aircraft, automation, electro-optical systems, including weapon sensors. India has decided to invest large sums in their manufacture. 5G will also be required for network-centred warfare. Secure, jam-proof data-links will be required for UAS and drone swarms. Developing and operationalizing Software Defined Radios (SDR) across all fleets is an imperative.
Data Fusion, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security
The demand for streaming high-quality data requires bandwidth, which involves innovating sensor/processing systems. Data fusion will be deepened by integrating sensors on different platforms, including satellites and drones. Network-centric payload processing units enable on-board data fusion prior to sending to digital links. AI will support aircraft systems management and determine which data should be presented to the pilot. Sensor fusion and optional-manning would mean heavy reliance on data-links and networks. Sixth-generation avionics will have to be resilient to jamming and have the capability to jam adversary systems.
Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
The IAF has to prepare for MDO, involving integrated actions across multiple war-fighting domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, to achieve information superiority, decision superiority, and synchronized effects by exploiting the interdependencies between these domains. The approach leverages advanced technology and innovative strategies to create a unified and synergistic effect, countering complex threats and achieving strategic objectives more efficiently. Advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and cloud computing are crucial for enabling MDO by facilitating data processing, platform integration, and rapid decision-making. MDO aims to outpace the adversary by operating at a faster tempo and manipulating key control parameters, creating uncertainty and disrupting the enemy’s decision-making processes. MDO allows decisive outcomes with less effort.
Pakistan Centric to China Centric
For long, India’s military assets and infrastructure were Pakistan-border centric. This is fast changing, for both infrastructure build-up and asset positioning. While border roads and connectivity are being improved, the IAF has upgraded its Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) near the China border. All IAF airfields are getting hardened aircraft and equipment shelters. The IAF now has a significant number of Su-30 MKI squadrons facing China. Also, new acquisitions like Rafale, C-130 J, Chinook, and Apache helicopters have all been located in the eastern sector. The same is also applicable to air defence systems and weapons positioning.
Whole of Nation Approach for IAF to be Future Ready
Future air war will increasingly be between stealth platforms, uninhabited systems, and loitering munitions. Air combat engagements will be long-distance. Precision in a degraded electronic environment will be crucial. Space has become a war-fighting domain, an assessment that calls for doctrinal changes and the ability to intervene there more quickly. Hastening the establishment of secure tri-service data-links for joint operations is important.
Atmanirbharta in aerospace and defence is now an existential strategic necessity. Integrating the private sector more closely must be accelerated. India must invest much more in R&D. The Indian economy must continue to grow at around 8–10 percent for adequate funds to be available for defence. Keeping in view the global average and India’s threat perception, at least 2.5 percent of GDP should be spent on defence, up from the current 1.9 percent.
HAL must concentrate on being an integrator and not so much a manufacturer. Workforce human productivity must go up to international standards. Product and sub-component quality assurance need to improve much more. Both DRDO and HAL make over-optimistic projections. Timelines have always slipped very considerably. HAL must be freed from the MoD’s bureaucratic control. Selection and procurement cycles for aerial platforms must be cut from the existing 6–8 years to 2–3 years. Total self-reliance by 2047 is an ambitious but desirable target. It needs clear directions and a whole-of-nation approach. Identify some national programs such as critical minerals and advanced alloys, AMCA, the MBT, Hypersonic, DEW, Electronic Warfare, AI, and Robotics, and put them under a specially selected CEO to drive as a national mission. Aviation systems require high capital expenditure; the government will have to back these. There is a need to support Indian MSMEs in navigating complex regulations and certification processes.
Airpower reforms are essential for India’s strategic rise. The IAF must continue to evolve as the nation’s cutting-edge force, driven by indigenous capability, stakeholder collaboration, and innovation. New technologies require doctrinal and tactical changes. Time to Act is now.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for SP’s aviation on, December 20th, 2025, it has since been updated.
Header Picture Credit: Author
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Air Power Asia 
