Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says drones are transforming warfare from surveillance tools into offensive combat systems. Singh said that drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are no longer merely ?eyes in the sky” but have evolved into ?claws in the sky,” underlining a major transformation in modern warfare and India’s evolving military doctrine.

Speaking at a defence seminar on unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS operations in New Delhi on May 15, the Air Chief stressed that future conflicts would increasingly rely on autonomous systems, integrated air defence networks and seamless coordination between the armed forces.

The seminar, organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power & Strategic Studies (CAPSS) and the Indian Military Review (IMR), focused on the growing significance of drones, swarm technologies and counter-drone capabilities amid rapidly changing battlefield conditions.

“We are shifting from concentrated air power to a decentralised and autonomous way of warfare,” Singh said, highlighting how drones are now becoming an extension of conventional air power rather than just surveillance assets.

The remarks come amid growing global military reliance on drones following conflicts in Ukraine, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, where unmanned systems have demonstrated their ability to conduct surveillance, precision strikes, electronic warfare and saturation attacks at comparatively low cost.

Referring to India’s own operational experience during Operation Sindoor, the IAF chief said that recent military engagements had reinforced the importance of drones and integrated defence systems. He noted that India’s success during the operation was possible because of strong inter-service coordination and the functioning of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) as the central operational nerve centre.