"We must invest, build to safeguard ourselves": CDS highlights significance of indigenous counter-UAS systems during ops

New Delhi [India], July 16 : Highlighting the Significance of indigenous technologies in both offensive and defensive operations, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday stressed that India must invest in and develop homegrown capabilities to ensure its security.
Addressing an event in the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, General Chauhan pointed out that foreign technologies weaken preparedness and limit the ability to scale up production, resulting in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability.
He noted that Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, has proved that indigenously developed counter-UAS systems built according to India's terrain and needs are crucial during military operations.
"Operation Sindoor has shown us why indigenously developed counter-UAS systems built for our terrain and our needs are crucial. We must invest and build to safeguard ourselves. We can not rely solely on these technologies, which are crucial for the offensive and defensive missions. Dependence on foreign technologies weakens our preparedness, limits our ability to scale up production, and results in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability. Foreign capability is known to all and adversaries can predict tactics based on the capability of these systems," CDS Chauhan said.
He stated that Pakistan used unarmed drones and loitering munitions against India; however, it failed to inflict any damage to the Indian military or civil infrastructure.
He added that the Indian Armed Forces neutralised Islamabad's drones through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means.
"During Operation Sindoor, on 10th May, Pakistan used unarmed drones and loitering munitions. None of them inflicted any damage to the Indian military or civil infrastructure. Most were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means, and some were even recovered in almost intact condition," he added.
CDS Chauhan emphasised that the employment of drones is evolutionary. "When we talk about drones, what do you think these are - are they bringing an evolutionary change or a revolutionary change in warfare? I think their development is evolutionary and their employment has been very revolutionary in warfare... As the realisation of their deployment and scope increased, the Army started using drones in a revolutionary manner; you have seen this in a number of wars fought by us..."
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also visited the exhibition on indigenisation of critical components currently being imported from foreign OEMs in the areas of UAV & C-UAS at the Manekshaw Centre.