The Reality Of India's Drone Dreams
Geopolitics|January 2021
India needs to up the drone game quickly and imports are only part of the solution, argues NINAD D SHETH
Ninad D Sheth
The Reality Of India's Drone Dreams
Like the jarring drone of a morning alarm The Nagorno Karabakh conflict has come as a long overdue wake up call for India’s higher defence planners.

In that mini war, Azerbaijan surprised the world by effectively deploying a tactical strategy putting to use the power of two very modern drones- that are far less expensive than missile and aircraft systems- and that gave far better coordinated results when used as a part of an architecture that includes reconnaissance, specific search and destroy.

Azerbaijan deployed the Israelimade Harop drones. The employment was significant as it was able to take out the most potent Russian made S-300 missile defence system. Similarly, entire tank formations of the Armenian Army were destroyed on a surprisingly regular basis and their supply lines punctured. Graphic images of death and destruction underscored their own hits in information warfare, being strategically promoted on social media.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GEOPOLITICSView All
Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon
Geopolitics

Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon

The ongoing war, loosely called the Gaza War, is actually being fought in two different loosely connected segments; against the Hamas with a spill off in the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas against Palestinian factions and against the Hezbollah in Lebanon with a spill off in Syria. Treating Israel-Hamas War and the Lebanon War as separate entities, RAJ MEHTA explains the lessons from these wars

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION
Geopolitics

POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION

It has been a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for India recently. India participated in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO) summit that took place in Islamabad on October 15-16, and the 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 2224, 2024. These back-to-back summits within a short span of time underscore India's active role in shaping regional and global diplomacy, balancing national interests with multilateral cooperation

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY
Geopolitics

THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY

The Tejas Mk-II, featuring DRDO's GaN-based Uttam AESA radar, marks a major leap in India's defence, enhancing range, precision, and multi-target tracking capabilities, highlights GIRISH LINGANNA

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
PRIME MOVER
Geopolitics

PRIME MOVER

The indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) has received a boost with its first export order from the Kingdom of Morocco

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION
Geopolitics

TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION

The GA-ASI MQ-9B will dramatically enhance the ISR and precision strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2024
TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Geopolitics

TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

Navigation systems have evolved significantly since the Viking era, with Tactical Air Navigation TACAN) now widely used for air and sea travel. Post-World War Il, reliable systems became essential for safety and efficiency, as highlighted by DR. SUJAN KUMAR SARASWATI, in this article on TACAN’s operational principles.

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2024
AIRBORNE TRACKER
Geopolitics

AIRBORNE TRACKER

Indigenous efforts towards AEW&C and AWACS platforms need to be stepped up even as international programmes extend the current state-of-the-art for such aircraft, highlights

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024
AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA
Geopolitics

AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA

India's defence dilemma is now being complicated by the lessons learnt in the Ukraine and Gaza wars because these conflicts are reshaping the way wars are fought in the modern world.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS
Geopolitics

FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS

Self-reliance in Defence Production needs new ideas, new definitions _es and an appropriate methodology, argues AMIT COWSHISH

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024
"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"
Geopolitics

"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, Air Chief Marshal AMAR PREET SINGH PVSM AVSM took over as the 28th Air Chief of India on September 30, 2024.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024