Rajnath Singh calls for sharper IAF surprise tactics and tech upgrades

Indian Air Force commanders must sharpen both the attack and defense sides of the element of surprise to stay ready for modern threats. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave this directive during the Air Force Commanders' Conference in New Delhi.

Modern Warfare

Singh pointed out that current conflicts now stretch far beyond standard battlegrounds into non-contact areas. He noted that lessons from the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars show that drones and air defense systems are now vital tools. He asked commanders to stay ready for kamikaze drones, surveillance tasks, and counter-drone missions.

New Tech Focus

Singh told the Indian Air Force to build special doctrines and frameworks for new warfare spaces like electronic, cyber, and space sectors. Winning future battles will depend on technical sophistication, fast response times, and precise planning rather than just having a large aircraft fleet. During the event, the minister also launched several in-house artificial intelligence applications created by the IAF's AI Centre of Excellence to speed up operations and administration.

Context

Commander conferences serve as key platforms for top military leadership to review current security challenges and plan future strategy. These meetings help shape India's defense policies and push the armed forces toward greater self-reliance and technological integration.