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Pak drones could not inflict damage on Indian military, civil infrastructure during Operation Sindoor: CDS Anil Chauhan

Operation Sindoor has demonstrated why indigenously developed unmanned and counter-unmanned aerial systems are crucial, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said.

Chauhan was addressing a workshop on "Indigenisation of critical components currently being imported from foreign OEMs in the areas of UAV & C-UAS." (Photo: Screengrab from Video on X/@PTI_News)

None of the unarmed drones and loitering munitions deployed by Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor could inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Wednesday, adding that most of them were killed through a “combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means” and some could be recovered in almost intact conditions.

Delivering the keynote address at a workshop at Manekshaw Centre, General Chauhan further said that Operation Sindoor has shown why indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) “built for our terrain and our needs are crucial”.

The 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 (HQ-IDS), in collaboration with the think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, comes in the immediate backdrop of Operation Sindoor, which has underlined the strategic importance and operational effectiveness of UAVs and C-UAS, the Defence Ministry stated on Tuesday.

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The CDS said that India cannot rely on imported niche technologies that are crucial for our offensive and defensive missions. He said that dependence on foreign technologies weakens India’s preparedness, limits its ability to scale up production, and leads to a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability.

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General Chauhan also said that recent global conflicts have shown how drones can shift tactical balance disproportionately, adding that self-reliance in UAVs and C-UAS is a strategic imperative for India.

He said asymmetric drone warfare is making large platforms vulnerable and driving militaries to rethink the conceptual aspects of air doctrines, the development of C-UAS, and adaptive moves of engagement.

Military leaders, scientists, policymakers and private industry representatives were present at the event, which aims to develop a “strategic roadmap” for indigenisation, to reduce reliance on foreign companies for critical UAV and C-UAS components.

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