Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said that during Operation Sindoor, launched on May 10, Pakistani forces deployed unarmed drones and loitering munitions, but “none of them could actually inflict any damage on Indian military or civilian infrastructure.”
Speaking at an event at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, General Chauhan stated, “Most of the drones were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Some were even recovered in near-intact condition.”
He highlighted that Operation Sindoor underscored the strategic value of indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) tailored for Indian terrain and operational needs.
“Recent global conflicts have shown how drones can disproportionately shift the tactical balance. Self-reliance in UAVs and C-UAS is not just an option, it is a strategic imperative,” he asserted.
The event coincided with a workshop on ‘Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS’, organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies.
Stressing the ethos of Atmanirbharta, General Chauhan warned against over-reliance on foreign technologies for critical military systems. “Dependence on imported niche technologies weakens our preparedness, limits scalability, and causes shortages of essential spares needed for 24/7 operational availability,” he said.
The workshop and remarks came in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, with Operation Sindoor spotlighting the growing importance of advanced drone warfare and the need for indigenous capability development in the defence sector.
