'New Domain In Warfare': Air Marshal Dixit's Massive 'Drone Tech' Push Post Op Sindoor
/ Jul 16, 2025, 10:08PM IST
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit emphasized the growing strategic importance of drones following the success of Operation Sindoor. He noted that while drone technology has existed for years, recent developments have sparked nationwide attention and deeper discussions. Highlighting global usage in conflicts like Ukraine and the Middle East, Dixit called UAVs a new dimension in modern warfare. He stressed the need to reduce dependence on foreign components and urged civil and military agencies to clearly define requirements. Dixit called for continuous innovation from industry, support from scientific institutions, and foundational research from academia to build robust, indigenous drone capabilities in India.#indianairforce #dronetechnology #makeinindia #defenceindia #uav #militarydrones #operationsindoor #aatmanirbharbharat #dronewarfare #indiandefence #toi #toibharat

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
India together with Israel and Turkey in..., CDS Anil Chauhan exposes Pakistan, Islamabad on high alert due to...
India together with Israel and Turkey in..., CDS Anil Chauhan exposes Pakistan, Islamabad on high alert due to... India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan recently spoke about the brief four-day clash between India and Pakistan that took place in May. He revealed that during this time, Pakistan sent several drones into Indian territory, but many of those drones didn't even work properly. In fact, some were found in nearly perfect condition. CDS Chauhan was speaking at an event in Delhi, where he emphasized that modern wars can't be won with outdated systems. He praised the quality of weapons made in India and highlighted the country's growing strength in using tactical drones while putting India in the same position as countries like Israel and Turkey. Talking about the attack, he said that Pakistan had used drones without weapons and also launched 'loitering munitions.' These are special types of drones that hover in the air and strike when they spot a target. However, none of these caused any harm to Indian soldiers or civilians. Most of the drones were shot down, and some were recovered without damage. This action was part of Operation Sindoor, which was launched on April 22, right after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Made-in-India anti-drone systems are very important CDS Chauhan has said that Indian-made weapons played a key role in Operation Sindoor. He stressed how important it is for India to build its own counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) technology systems that can detect and shoot down enemy drones. He explained that this operation proved how crucial such systems are for our safety. He said India must rely on its own strength and build what it needs, rather than depending on other countries. He added that recent wars around the world have shown that drones can completely change the course of a battle and therefore India must be ready with the right technology. CDS on buying defence technology from other countries General Chauhan also said that buying defence technology from other countries is not a good long-term strategy. It makes India dependent and weakens our ability to respond quickly in times of crisis. If we build everything in India i.e. from design to final product, we not only protect our secrets but also lower costs, increase production, and stay better prepared. He added, 'When we build our own defence systems, it becomes harder for the enemy to know our real strength. That gives us an advantage — we can surprise them when needed.'


Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: City of quiet power
As India charges ahead into a future that will be driven by technology, innovation, and self-reliance in defence, Bengaluru stands firmly at the centre of this transformation. When TOI first came to the city in 1984, Bengaluru was often seen as the charming 'Garden City' or a quiet 'Pensioners' Paradise'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But today, it's so much more — a dynamic powerhouse that plays a crucial role in shaping India's economy, strengthening its security, advancing its space ambitions, and boosting its global presence. From the blueprints of cuttingedge fighter jets to the algorithms that could shape the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI), from satellite launches that beam signals across continents to policy think tanks that help steer the nation's democratic machinery — Bengalu-ru's fingerprints are everywhere. And TOI has been around to mark each of these milestones, sometimes documenting and celebrating multiple transformations simultaneously. For decades, Bengaluru has been India's go-to city for software services, drawing global giants like IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Google to establish sprawling campuses in its ever-expanding tech corridors, but the city's real strategic heft lies not merely in IT services, but in its growing role in shaping sovereign technologies. This distinction has become even more pronounced in the post-pandemic, post-Galwan world, where India has recalibrated its internal strengths in light of external vulnerabilities. Technology is no longer a soft sector. It is national infrastructure, and Bengaluru is a key place where this infrastructure is imagined, tested and deployed. Indeed, the sheer density of defence and dual-use technology institutions in Bengaluru is staggering. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For instance, HAL manufactures fighter jets and helicopters that power India's air defences, and is actively getting into rocket building. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) produces advanced radars, electronic warfare systems and communication networks for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is developing the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA, India's nextgeneration fighters, while the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) delves into autonomy and machine learning for battlefield applications. During Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory airstrikes along the western front, a Bengaluru-built loitering munition made headlines. Alpha Design Technologies' SkyStriker, developed in collaboration with Israel's Elbit Systems, was deployed for precision strikes. This convergence of state-backed R&D and industrial production makes Bengaluru one of the rare cities globally where design, testing and manufacturing can all happen within a 40-km radius — a logistical and intellectual advantage not lost on policymakers. SPACE CITY Perhaps no other city in India has come to symbolise the country's space ambitions more than Bengaluru. The headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) sits quietly in the city, but the ripples it creates are anything but quiet. It was from Bengaluru that mission control oversaw Chandrayaan, , and the Chandrayaan-3 landing that etched India's name on lunar history. Bengaluru is also home to the UR Rao Satellite Centre, Isro Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (Istrac), and the Human Spaceflight Centre — key pillars of India's space ecosystem. As India prepares for Gaganyaan, its first crewed space mission, and looks towards building a space station by 2035, Bengaluru's relevance only deepens. The growing space start-up ecosystem, too, has found fertile ground here. Among them, Digantara, a homegrown start-up, is building India's first private space situational awareness (SSA) infrastructure. With its space-based sensors and debrismapping technology, There are other firms like Pixxel and GalaxEye that are working on Earth Observation satellites. Bellatrix Aerospace, with inspace propulsion systems, further cements the city's image as India's new space crucible. In an era when space is rapidly militarising, Bengaluru's role takes on a strategic weight. The Defence Space Agency (DSA), headquartered in the city, is responsible for integrating space assets across the armed forces — a nod to how deeply embedded Bengaluru is in India's strategic command structure. QUANTUM, CYBER & AI As cyberwarfare emerges as the fifth domain of war, Bengaluru has become India's cyber nerve centre — home to defence cyber units, intelligence-linked AI projects, and a robust private ecosystem. It hosts the southern operations of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and regularly sees joint cyber exercises involving the armed forces. India's push towards a cyber command and digitised battlefield operations draws power from Bengaluru's strengths in software and electronics. Start-ups like Tonbo Imaging lead in tactical vision systems, while Awiros and QNu Labs are building secure AI and quantumresilient encryption frameworks. On the quantum frontier, the Raman Research Institute is pioneering quantum communication protocols, while Isro is exploring satellite-based quantum key distribution — both crucial for next-gen, secure networks. This research is vital as quantum computing begins to challenge traditional encryption. AI research hubs like IISc and Artpark add momentum, turning data sovereignty and cyber resilience into on-the-ground innovation. The civilian-military tech divide is fading fast with AI being used in signal intelligence, and battlefield tech — born in civilian labs. Bengaluru doesn't just understand this shift — it attempts to drive it. Few cities fuse academic depth, start-up energy, and strategic defence imperatives quite like this one. URBAN CHAOS Yet, for all its promise, Bengaluru's strategic future is not without risk. The city's infrastructure is crumbling under its own success. Traffic bottlenecks, flooding, unreliable power supply, and chronic water shortages plague daily life, threatening to erode the confidence of investors and institutions alike. The risk isn't just economic — it's strategic. Defence systems depend on uninterrupted power and secure data flows. Space missions demand clockwork logistics. If Bengaluru chokes, the arteries of national ambition may feel the squeeze. The govt has begun to respond. New road projects, suburban rail, and data centre corridors are in the pipeline. The state is also trying to decentralise growth to regions like Devanahalli and Tumakuru, hoping to ease pressure on the core. However, much will depend on how imaginatively the city is governed. As a key node in India's national security and technological grid, Bengaluru's stability is not just a local concern. QUIET POWER Unlike Delhi, Bengaluru wields no political power on the national stage. Unlike Mumbai, it is not the financial capital. Yet, in the 21st century, where algorithms, aerospace, and autonomy define statecraft, Bengaluru may well be India's most strategically consequential city. This is where engineers draft the contours of air dominance. Where scientists whisper to satellites. Where coders encrypt secrets. And where the battles of the future — silent, digital, orbital — are already being waged. Strategists in the South Block know this too. So do adversaries, watching from afar. The world may see this as a city of cafés, flyovers, and start-ups, but behind the glass facades and traffic snarls, Bengaluru hums with quiet power — a city that doesn't shout its importance, but ensures it is felt across the firmament.


Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
After Operation Sindoor success, BrahMos missile finds buyers across the map: Vietnam, Brazil, UAE lead the list
The BrahMos missile , co-developed by India and Russia, is now at the centre of global defence conversations. Following its deployment in Operation Sindoor , interest in the supersonic cruise missile has surged, with more than 14 countries expressing intent to purchase the system. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at a public event in Lucknow, made it clear that India's defence capabilities have caught the world's attention. 'Just a few days ago, I inaugurated a BrahMos airspace integration and testing facility in Lucknow,' he said. 'The BrahMos facility will not only strengthen our self-reliance in the defence sector but also generate employment and attract more industries to Uttar Pradesh .' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Technology healthcare Healthcare Digital Marketing PGDM Public Policy CXO Management Degree Finance Data Science MCA Operations Management Data Analytics Leadership MBA Cybersecurity Others Data Science Design Thinking others Project Management Product Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Operation Sindoor was India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. Though India has not officially confirmed the missile's combat use, Pakistan acknowledged its deployment. Singh stated, 'Through Operation Sindoor, India gave a clear message to the entire country of its willingness to respond to terrorist attacks.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo A closer look at who's interested The list of interested buyers is long and varied, cutting across regions and continents, as reported by MoneyControl. The Philippines was the first to sign a formal contract for BrahMos. In 2022, India agreed to supply three coastal defence batteries for around $375 million. Two of these have already been delivered, the second arriving in April 2025 by sea. A defence source told The New Indian Express, 'The second battery of the missile has been sent in a ship this time. The first battery was sent in April 2024 in an IAF aircraft, with support coming from civil aircraft agencies.' Live Events ET has not been able to independently verify this information. Indonesia is currently negotiating a deal for a more advanced variant of the missile. The agreement, in discussion for nearly a decade, could be worth up to $450 million. Indonesia is also exploring deployment on its Su-30MKM fighters and Kedah-class warships. Vietnam is reportedly preparing a $700 million package for BrahMos, aimed at both its Army and Navy . Other Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei are at various stages of negotiation. The interest stretches further west. In Latin America, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela are eyeing naval and coastal defence variants. Several Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Oman, are also in active discussions. The missile itself: Speed, range, precision First tested in 2001, BrahMos is one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world, reaching speeds of Mach 3. It carries warheads weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms and can strike targets as low as 10 metres above the ground, or up to 15 kilometres in the air. The missile's range, once capped at 290 kilometres, has now been extended to 500 and even 800 kilometres in newer variants. It is designed to be launched from land, sea, air, and even submarines. With around 83 percent of its components now manufactured in India, BrahMos is increasingly indigenised. Its 'fire and forget' capability, combined with stealth and high accuracy — with a circular error probability under one metre — makes it particularly hard to intercept. The next-generation variant, weighing just 1,290 kilos compared to the previous 2,900, allows aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI to carry up to three missiles at once. According to Times Now, this lighter model will also offer a longer range of roughly 400 kilometres. Lucknow joins the supply chain In response to rising global demand, India has boosted its production capacity. A new BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility has been inaugurated along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway. This site will handle final integration and trials of the missiles before they are shipped to buyers. The Defence Minister praised Uttar Pradesh's transformation under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , noting improvements in infrastructure, investment, and public safety. 'Today, law and order prevail, investments are rising, industries are thriving, and infrastructure is witnessing historic changes. Expressways, airports, metros, and medical colleges are reshaping the development landscape,' Singh said as reported by TOI. He added, 'No criminal can now walk fearlessly on this land.' He also expressed hope that the facility would turn Lucknow into a strategic manufacturing base. 'I reiterate my commitment to bringing more industries to the state, ensuring that both Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh continue on a path of rapid development,' Singh said. Local manufacturing of Titanium: A strategic shift Behind the scenes, another transformation is taking shape. PTC Industries, a private firm based in Lucknow, has begun manufacturing titanium and superalloy components crucial for defence and aerospace, as reported by India Today. This makes India only the sixth country in the world capable of producing such materials, joining the ranks of the US, UK, France, Russia, and China. These alloys are critical for missile structures, aircraft frames, and submarine parts. The company is also supplying alloys to international defence giants, including Dassault Aviation , which makes the Rafale jets. Strategic materials complex set up in Lucknow To support the scale of manufacturing needed, a specialised materials complex was launched in parallel with the BrahMos plant. It includes four core units: a primary metals facility for titanium and superalloy ingots, a large casting plant, a precision forging unit, and an advanced machining centre. These are tailored to produce parts like jet engine blades and missile components. This facility is part of the larger Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor , a project aimed at making India less dependent on foreign military suppliers. Over seven defence industries are already operational under the corridor plan. The story of BrahMos is no longer just about missile performance. It's now also about manufacturing scale, diplomatic leverage, and economic opportunity. As more countries line up to place orders, India finds itself at the edge of a new era in defence exports. Lucknow, with its factories and forging plants, is no longer just a political hub. It's now part of a very different map — one that shapes national security, global partnerships, and economic ambition all at once.