Readying hi-tech drones to counter threats: Indian Army Chief

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

Days after the drone attack on the IAF base in Jammu, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on Thursday said the process was underway to operationalise pre-programmed drones for different terrains to work at varying altitudes and extended ranges.

No LoC intrusion since Ceasefire

Four months after India and Pakistan announced to ‘strictly observe pacts on ceasefire’ along LoC, General MM Naravane said there had been no infiltration from across LoC since then and all parameters of violence had dropped.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Global Counter Terrorism Council, General Naravane referred to the demonstration of “swarming capability” of 75 drones during the Army Day Parade in January to explain what he meant by pre-programmed drones.

On new technologies that could change military warfare, the Army Chief said artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous and unmanned systems, long-range precision technology and quantum computing could become tools of deterrence.

The Army, he said, was looking at a whole range of applications, including surveillance, logistics, cyberspace operations and military training and combat operations.

“On the operational front, AI holds great promise to aid military decisions,” he said.

The advent of drones and counter-drone systems had radically altered the way to fight future wars. “Drones can be easily accessed and used by both state and non-state actors. We have to factor this as we make our plans,” he said.

On China, he said the developments along the northern borders during the past year were a stark reminder that “to preserve our territorial integrity, the armed forces need to continually prepare and adapt to the exigencies of modern wars”.