Battle Cry: India's push for jet-powered drones, AI for future warfare

On this special edition of Battle Cry, Gaurav Sawant discusses the evolving nature of global warfare and India's military preparedness with Sandeep Unnithan and Veda Aeronautics Managing Director Deepesh Gupta. The discussion focusses on the rapid adoption of unmanned aerial systems, humanoid robots, robotic mules, and artificial intelligence in modern combat, drawing lessons from recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Deepesh Gupta highlights India's progress in jet-powered drones for deep strike capabilities, swarming concepts, and canisterised deployment systems, arguing that Indian armed forces are ahead of the curve in several conceptual areas. Sandeep Unnithan emphasises the need for an all-of-nation approach similar to the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme to scale up domestic drone manufacturing and reduce import dependency. The panel also examines counter-drone technologies, including ground-based lasers, smart ammunition, and interceptors, while stressing the importance of retaining human decision-making alongside AI network-centric warfare to maintain effective deterrence against collusive threats.