From Borders To Skies: Army's Plan To Arm All Jawans With Drone Skills By 2027 Wins Rajnath Singh's Thumbs Up

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has backed the Army’s ambitious plan to equip every soldier with drone-operating skills by 2027, calling it a decisive step in preparing for the unpredictability of modern warfare, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), reflects the growing importance of unmanned systems in future conflicts.

Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of ARTRAC, earlier in June said ARTRAC has earmarked 33 niche technologies—ranging from drones and cyber warfare to battlefield AI and electronic systems—for army training.

Fourteen centres of expertise have been set up, with a Rs 390 crore plan over five years to build infrastructure, R&D, and simulation systems, aiming for full integration by 2030.

Delivering the plenary address at RAN SAMWAD, a tri-service seminar on war and warfare held at the Army War College, Rajnath Singh said that the fusion of technology and surprise is redefining battlefields.

Technology, he observed, is evolving so rapidly that innovations emerge before the previous ones are fully absorbed, altering the very nature of warfare.

He cited drones, cyber-attacks, hypersonic missiles, and AI-driven systems as key examples of these game-changers.

He described Operation Sindoor as proof of how technology-driven warfare can dictate the rules of conflict.

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The swift integration of forces, precision intelligence, and cyber capabilities during the operation, he said, caught adversaries off guard and highlighted the decisive role of jointness.

The Raksha Mantri also underlined that mere numbers of troops or weapons are no longer sufficient. Real-time intelligence, data-driven operations, and autonomous systems will decide outcomes in future wars.

He remarked that the most striking aspect of surprise in modern warfare is its lack of a permanent form, as it constantly shifts and carries with it an enduring sense of uncertainty.

Linking battlefield readiness to Aatmanirbharta, Singh cited record defence production of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in FY2024-25 and exports of nearly Rs 24,000 crore, adding that platforms such as Tejas jets and Akash missiles showcase India’s global credibility.

At the seminar, he also released the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap, charting the path for India’s long-term defence modernisation.

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