Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said unmanned aerial systems are no longer “eyes in the sky” but an extension of air power—“claws in the sky”—driving decentralised, autonomous warfare. He stressed complete domain awareness and “total coordination” among the three services sharing the same airspace, citing the March 1 Kuwait fratricide involving F-15E Strike Eagles. Singh also urged faster innovation in counter-UAS, highlighting Operation Sindoor’s integrated command and control, and the need for scalable, low-cost defences.
The Indian Army’s air defence regiment in Gujarat marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor with a major field exercise. It combined L70 gun drills with unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, target acquisition and real-time intelligence across difficult terrain. The drills also highlighted waterborne capability, with specialised battle groups executing fast manoeuvres through shallow waters using assault boats.
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