Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan deployed unarmed drones and loiter munitions during India’s Operation Sindoor on May 10, but none succeeded in damaging Indian military or civilian infrastructure.
“None of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure,” said General Chauhan during an address at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
He added that most of the drones were effectively neutralised.
“Most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Some of them could be recovered in almost intact conditions,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of indigenous defence technologies, the CDS noted that Operation Sindoor underlined the need for India-developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) tailored specifically for Indian terrain and requirements.
“Operation Sindoor has shown us as to why indigenously developed UAS and C-UAS built for our terrain and our needs are crucial.”
General Chauhan also remarked on the global shift in military strategy brought about by drone warfare:
“Recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can shift tactical balance disproportionately,” he said, adding that self-reliance in UAVs and C-UAS is now a strategic imperative for India.
The comments were made during a day-long workshop on ‘Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS’, hosted by Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).
The event also reflects the Ministry of Defence’s ongoing commitment to ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence technologies.
“We cannot rely on imported niche technologies that are crucial for our offensive and defensive missions; we must invest, build and safeguard ourselves,” General Chauhan stated.
He warned that dependence on foreign defence systems can hinder India’s operational readiness.
“Dependence on foreign technologies weakens our preparedness, limits our ability to scale up production, results in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability.”
Operation Sindoor and recent regional hostilities have reinforced India’s push to indigenise critical military systems and reduce reliance on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), especially in the evolving domain of drone warfare.