Can Armed, Stealthy UAVs Replace Fighter Jets or Best Augment Them

Elon Musk has suggested that fighter jets be replaced by drones. However, some say that drones would need to have the same electronics as fighter jets, which would make them expensive. Clearly, more and more tasks are being gradually shifted to drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are not likely to replace fighter jets anytime soon. However, drones willContinue reading “Can Armed, Stealthy UAVs Replace Fighter Jets or Best Augment Them”

Lessons from Operation Sindoor: Key Areas of Military Modernisation

India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, without qualification, acknowledged some tactical errors on Day 1 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) campaign of Op Sindoor. He was giving an interview to two international media houses. In what is seen clearly as a deliberate and calculated interview, on the sidelines of the Shangri-LaContinue reading “Lessons from Operation Sindoor: Key Areas of Military Modernisation”

Deep Drone Strikes New Dimension of Conflict – Lessons for India

Ukraine achieved its longest-range attack into Russia on Sunday, 01 June, hitting targets on four strategic military bases nearly 4,000 kilometres away from Ukrainian territory, and hitting around 40 Russian warplanes. Thirteen of these were reportedly destroyed, and others damaged. Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that 117 drones were used in the so-called “Spider’s Web” operationContinue reading “Deep Drone Strikes New Dimension of Conflict – Lessons for India”

Future is Directed Energy Weapons – India Fast Coming of Age 

India successfully tested the Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) on April 13, 2025, at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool. This 30 kW (kilowatt) laser weapon is designed to neutralize drones, UAVs, and other aerial threats, placing India in a select group of nations with this capability. The DRDO (Defence Research andContinue reading “Future is Directed Energy Weapons – India Fast Coming of Age “

Prioritising IAF’s Unmanned Offensive and Defensive Capability

“Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur.”– Giulio Douhet For long, defence establishments around the world have been working and preparing for the future that would be unmanned. Videos of the Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions, reportedly used by AzerbaijanContinue reading “Prioritising IAF’s Unmanned Offensive and Defensive Capability”

Airpower: Harnessing the Power of Drone Swarms in Combat

The State of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhri on assuming the office of Chief of Air Staff on September 30th last year had in his first media interaction stated that the IAF presently has 30 fighter squadrons.  The Chief further stated that “Our count will remain around 35 tillContinue reading “Airpower: Harnessing the Power of Drone Swarms in Combat”

Drones – Security, Sovereignty and Identities

Drone attacks entered the mainstream news and gained prominence around the very beginning of the 2010s decade their increased usage by the Obama administration, even though it wasn’t the first time drones were used in the role. The use of drone strikes to eliminate supposed terrorist elements hurting the American War on Terror in AfghanistanContinue reading “Drones – Security, Sovereignty and Identities”

Autonomous Aerial Weapon and Platforms

On 14 September 2019, drones were used to attack the Saudi Aramco oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais. The Houthis claimed responsibility, and stated they used ten drones in the attack launched from Yemen. Saudis said that many more drones and cruise missiles. The very accurate attack caused precise hits and large fires at theContinue reading “Autonomous Aerial Weapon and Platforms”