Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on the Indian Air Force (IAF) to prepare for a new phase of warfare in which drones, electronic attacks, cyber operations and space-based systems are playing an increasing role. Addressing the Air Force Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on Thursday, he stressed the need for stronger intelligence networks, faster responses and better coordination between India’s three armed services.

He also called for improvements in both offensive and defensive military capabilities, with particular attention to the element of surprise. The Defence Minister said Indian forces must be able to act before an adversary can respond while remaining alert to unexpected enemy moves.

“Our Defence Forces must develop capabilities and methods that leave the adversary with no time to react or recover, while simultaneously ensuring that we are never caught off guard by an unexpected move from the enemy. Surprise can manifest in various forms, both conventional and electronic. Our intelligence and surveillance mechanisms must be further strengthened and operational preparedness enhanced to ensure that our personnel remain alert, agile and equipped to respond effectively to any emerging challenge,” said the Raksha Mantri.

The conference comes as military planners around the world reassess air power following the use of unmanned aircraft, precision weapons and advanced air defence systems in recent conflicts. Singh referred to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, where drones and missile defence systems have become important parts of military operations.

Singh’s remarks reflect the lessons Indian military planners have drawn from Operation Sindoor, conducted in May 2025. The operation involved the use of precision weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and air defence systems. During the nights of May 7 and 8, 2025, India reported that drones and missiles directed at several military locations in northern and western India were intercepted by its Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and air defence network.

The operation also involved systems such as the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile, along with Pechora and OSA-AK air defence equipment. The Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System helped coordinate information and responses across the air defence network. These developments have increased the importance of detecting aerial threats early and sharing information between military units.

Kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, present a particular challenge. They can remain in an area while searching for a target before attacking it. Their use in modern conflicts has forced military forces to improve radar coverage, electronic warfare systems and counter-drone equipment. India has also been working to increase domestic production of unmanned aircraft and systems designed to detect and stop hostile drones.

Singh asked IAF commanders to prepare dedicated doctrines and operating systems for electronic, cyber and space warfare. These areas are becoming increasingly important because military operations depend heavily on secure communications, satellite navigation, surveillance and the movement of information between different units.

India released its Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations on August 27, 2025. The doctrine covers coordinated military and national capabilities across six areas: land, sea, air, space, cyber and the cognitive domain. The last includes the use of information and communication to influence public opinion and decision-making.

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses has noted that military coordination now requires cooperation between the armed forces and other organisations, including intelligence agencies, research institutions and government departments. This approach is relevant to India’s plans for handling threats that may involve several areas of warfare at the same time.

“Victory in future conflicts would depend not merely on the number of aircraft, but also on technological sophistication, speed of response and precision of preparations,” Singh said.

His comments also place attention on the importance of joint operations between the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. During Operation Sindoor, the three Services worked towards common military objectives. Singh praised their coordination and said this approach should remain central to future military planning.

The Air Force Commanders’ Conference also reviewed the lessons from Operation Sindoor. Singh appreciated the IAF’s conduct during and after the operation, particularly the judgement and restraint shown by air warriors while carrying out their assigned duties. He said the experience had influenced changes in operational procedures, including greater attention to drones and air defence.

The Defence Minister also spoke about the role of young personnel in preparing the armed forces for technology-based warfare. He asked commanders to continue training air warriors in new technologies and make better use of the technical knowledge brought by younger recruits. Their skills, he said, could help improve decision-making and organisational development.

Another subject discussed was the Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers. Singh said the decision followed feedback from the armed forces and reflected the Government’s willingness to consider suggestions from the three Services when making policy decisions. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help strengthen the military.

Artificial intelligence was another major part of the conference. Singh launched a group of AI applications developed in-house by the Indian Air Force’s AI Centre of Excellence under UDAAN, whose full name is the Unit for Digitisation, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Application Networking.

The new applications are intended to speed up work in operations, administration and aerospace safety. They have been deployed on the IAF’s secure network.

The AI Centre of Excellence was established in 2022 at Air Force Station Rajokri in New Delhi. When it was inaugurated on July 10 that year, the IAF had announced plans to use big data analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, neural networks and deep learning. The centre was also expected to work with public sector companies, smaller businesses and academic institutions on AI-based defence applications.

The latest applications mark another stage in that work. Their use within the Air Force will be watched closely as military organisations look at ways to process information faster and reduce routine administrative work. The Defence Ministry has not disclosed the individual applications, their technical specifications or the expected savings in time and manpower.

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.

Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all IAF commands, Principal Staff Officers and Director Generals are also attending the two-day meeting.

This year’s conference carries the theme, ‘The Year of Empowerment: Maximising Efficiency Through Decentralisation’. Discussions cover operations, maintenance and administration, with senior commanders examining ways to improve the functioning of the service.

The meeting comes at a time when India’s military is placing greater attention on technology, domestic defence production and coordination between the three Services. The ability to identify threats early, protect airspace and respond quickly will remain central to the Indian Air Force’s preparations for future conflicts.

The additional background on the IAF’s AI Centre, Operation Sindoor, air defence systems and India’s multi-domain warfare doctrine was checked against official Ministry of Defence and PIB material and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

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