New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on the armed forces to strengthen both offensive and defensive capabilities, particularly the element of surprise, to remain prepared for conventional and emerging threats.
Addressing the Air Force Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on 12 November, Singh stressed the need to strengthen intelligence and surveillance systems, improve integration among military platforms, and identify potential threats before they emerge.
He said modern warfare was changing rapidly due to technological advancements and that the armed forces must develop capabilities that leave adversaries with little time to respond while ensuring that Indian forces are never caught off guard.
Focus on Drones, Cyber and Space Warfare
The Defence Minister noted that contemporary conflicts were increasingly extending beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains, with missiles, drones and advanced weapon systems playing a growing role.
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, he highlighted the importance of drones and air defence systems in modern warfare. He urged the Indian Air Force (IAF) to prepare for challenges involving kamikaze drones, surveillance and counter-drone operations.
Singh also called for dedicated doctrines and operational architectures for emerging domains, including electronic, cyber and space warfare. He said future conflicts would depend not only on the number of aircraft but also on technological sophistication, response speed and precision in planning.
Lessons from Operation Sindoor
Singh commended the IAF for implementing its doctrines and operational methods during and after Operation Sindoor. He praised the professionalism, restraint and judgement demonstrated by air warriors in carrying out their assigned tasks.
He said the lessons from the operation were reflected in the IAF’s evolving operational procedures, particularly the increased emphasis on drones and air defence systems.
Highlighting the coordinated contributions of the Army, Navy and Air Force during the operation, the Defence Minister called for jointness and integration to remain central to military planning and operational execution.
He also urged the IAF leadership to continue upgrading the skills of its personnel in line with technological changes. Emphasising the potential of young recruits, he said their technical knowledge and expertise could contribute to better decision-making and organisational development.
AI Applications Launched on IAF’s Secure Network
As part of the conference, Singh launched a suite of Artificial Intelligence applications developed in-house by the IAF’s AI Centre of Excellence under the Unit for Digitisation, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Application Networking (UDAAN).
The applications are designed to automate and speed up tasks across operations, administration and aerospace safety. They have been deployed on the IAF’s secure network as part of the force’s efforts to adopt technology-driven solutions and strengthen operational capabilities.
Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers
The Defence Minister also referred to the government’s decision on the Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers, saying it had been taken after considering feedback from the armed forces.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to incorporating suggestions from the Services into policy decisions and expressed confidence that the initiative would further strengthen the three armed forces.
Two-Day Conference Focuses on Decentralisation
The inaugural session was attended by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Secretary (Defence Finance) Vishvajit Sahay, among other senior officials.
The two-day conference is being attended by Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all IAF commands, Principal Staff Officers and Director Generals.
This year’s theme is ‘The Year of Empowerment: Maximising Efficiency Through Decentralisation’. The conference provides a platform for the IAF’s senior leadership to discuss key issues relating to operations, maintenance and administration.
