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The cockpit is changing, and soon it might not need a human in it at all. The US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program envisions a single pilot commanding four to six AI-powered drones like Shield AI's X-BAT or General Atomics' FQ-42, scouting, absorbing enemy fire, and even launching strikes. Last year, an AI-piloted jet dogfighted a human-flown F-16 in a real test. As the US and China race to build autonomous air forces, the question isn't just "can AI fly", it's whether militaries are ready to trust it with life-and-death decisions.


The Air Force without pilots: Is AI rewriting the rules of air warfare?

It has been long debated which terrain poses the greatest challenge to combat operations, but comparing mountains, deserts, jungles, and cities reveals that each environment presents its own brutal form of logistical and physical warfare.

Mountain, desert, jungle or city: Which is the world’s toughest battlefield?

For decades, battlefield firepower depended largely on weapons that followed a predetermined path once fired. Mortar rounds travelled along ballistic trajectories, artillery shells followed their calculated arcs and unguided bombs depended heavily on the conditions at the moment of release.Modern warfare is changing that equation. Guidance systems, sensors and increasingly sophisticated onboard electronics are allowing munitions to correct their flight after launch and strike targets with far greater precision.&nbsp;India is also working on technologies aimed at bringing precision to existing classes of weapons, including mortar and artillery ammunition. The broader objective is significant: instead of relying only on expensive missiles or entirely new weapon systems, intelligence can increasingly be incorporated into the munition itself.&nbsp;Speaking to WION, Abhishek Jain, Chief Business Officer of Zeus Numerix, said the distinction between conventional and smart ammunition can be surprisingly simple. “Smart basically means, can the munition decide for itself what to do in flight?”&nbsp;Jain explained that this intelligence exists at different levels. A relatively simple system might correct only its range. More sophisticated weapons can correct both range and direction, while additional sensors can enable still greater precision.&nbsp;<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AyyqPv38E&amp;list=PLKwyKu6LhauQ&amp;index=6"></oembed></figure>&nbsp;But how much intelligence should actually be packed into a projectile? Jain says the answer depends on the mission. “Can we do more? Yes. Should we do more? Depends on the CONOPS, whether we require it or not.”&nbsp;He said Zeus is working with navigation-based guidance in which a munition can detect that it is deviating from its intended trajectory and autonomously correct its course without further input from the operator. He also referred to multi-constellation satellite navigation, including Indian navigation capabilities, and systems combining satellite navigation with terminal laser guidance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet greater sophistication comes at a price. “The moment you include more sensors, it becomes more and more expensive, so we have to be careful about that.”&nbsp;That trade-off could become increasingly important on battlefields where militaries need both mass and precision. The future may therefore not simply belong to the smartest weapon available, but to one carrying exactly as much intelligence as the mission requires. &nbsp;

India is developing technologies to make conventional munitions smarter by adding guidance, sensors and onboard electronics. Zeus Numerix says systems can autonomously correct range and direction using satellite navigation and laser guidance, but greater precision also brings higher costs.

For decades, battlefield firepower depended largely on weapons that followed a predetermined path once fired. Mortar rounds travelled along ballistic trajectories, artillery shells followed their calculated arcs and unguided bombs depended heavily on the conditions at the moment of release. Modern warfare is changing that equation. Guidance systems, sensors and increasingly sophisticated onboard electronics are allowing munitions to correct their flight after launch and strike targets with far greater precision. India is also working on technologies aimed at bringing precision to existing classes of weapons, including mortar and artillery ammunition. The broader objective is significant: instead of relying only on expensive missiles or entirely new weapon systems, intelligence can increasingly be incorporated into the munition itself. Speaking to WION, Abhishek Jain, Chief Business Officer of Zeus Numerix, said the distinction between conventional and smart ammunition can be surprisingly simple. “Smart basically means, can the munition decide for itself what to do in flight?” Jain explained that this intelligence exists at different levels. A relatively simple system might correct only its range. More sophisticated weapons can correct both range and direction, while additional sensors can enable still greater precision. But how much intelligence should actually be packed into a projectile? Jain says the answer depends on the mission. “Can we do more? Yes. Should we do more? Depends on the CONOPS, whether we require it or not.” He said Zeus is working with navigation-based guidance in which a munition can detect that it is deviating from its intended trajectory and autonomously correct its course without further input from the operator. He also referred to multi-constellation satellite navigation, including Indian navigation capabilities, and systems combining satellite navigation with terminal laser guidance. Yet greater sophistication comes at a price. “The moment you include more sensors, it becomes more and more expensive, so we have to be careful about that.” That trade-off could become increasingly important on battlefields where militaries need both mass and precision. The future may therefore not simply belong to the smartest weapon available, but to one carrying exactly as much intelligence as the mission requires.

India is developing technologies to make conventional munitions smarter by adding guidance, sensors and onboard electronics. Zeus Numerix says systems can autonomously correct range and direction using satellite navigation and laser guidance, but greater precision also brings higher costs.

When munitions start thinking: How India is turning conventional weapons ‘smart’

The United States has publicly disclosed the militarisation of space for the first time. U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has acknowledged that America now possesses “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending US forces against hostile action. Washington, however, has not disclosed what those weapons are, whether they are kinetic or non-kinetic, or precisely how they would operate. For decades, satellites have been the invisible infrastructure behind modern warfare, providing communications, navigation, missile warning, surveillance, and targeting. Now, the battle may no longer simply be from space. It could be fought in space. Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, Lt Gen P.J.S. Pannu (Retd.), GLOBAL SPACE FUTURES ADVISORY COUNCIL and former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, said the American announcement should not necessarily be interpreted as the sudden arrival of a new capability. Pannu described a future orbital battlefield extending far beyond the popular image of missiles or lasers. He explains that co-orbital satellites could manoeuvre alongside another spacecraft. Robotic arms could potentially interfere with satellites. Directed-energy weapons and high-power microwaves could disrupt systems, while kinetic vehicles could physically destroy targets. Cyber attacks, spoofing, and jamming could target the communications and command links connecting satellites to Earth. He also pointed to a particularly unconventional form of orbital warfare: forcing an adversary’s satellite to manoeuvre repeatedly until it exhausts its limited fuel. Gen. Pannu summed up the emerging American posture in stark terms: “They are ready to fight in the orbit to protect their celestial lines of communication.”

But destroying a satellite can generate debris capable of threatening military, commercial, and even civilian spacecraft. China demonstrated a direct-ascent anti-satellite weapon in 2007, while Russia has also demonstrated counter-space capabilities. Pannu argues that space has consequently become a “contested and highly volatile domain.” The legal framework is also incomplete for this new reality. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty explicitly prohibits nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not impose an equivalent blanket prohibition on conventional orbital weapons. For Gen. Pannu, the implication of Washington's disclosure is clear: space control may increasingly require the ability not merely to observe an adversary, but to “disrupt, degrade, even destroy” its capabilities. &nbsp;

Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, Lt Gen P.J.S. Pannu (Retd.), GLOBAL SPACE FUTURES ADVISORY COUNCIL and former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, said the American announcement should not necessarily be interpreted as the sudden arrival of a new capability.

The United States has publicly disclosed the militarisation of space for the first time. U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has acknowledged that America now possesses “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending US forces against hostile action. Washington, however, has not disclosed what those weapons are, whether they are kinetic or non-kinetic, or precisely how they would operate. For decades, satellites have been the invisible infrastructure behind modern warfare, providing communications, navigation, missile warning, surveillance, and targeting. Now, the battle may no longer simply be from space. It could be fought in space. Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, Lt Gen P.J.S. Pannu (Retd.), GLOBAL SPACE FUTURES ADVISORY COUNCIL and former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, said the American announcement should not necessarily be interpreted as the sudden arrival of a new capability. Pannu described a future orbital battlefield extending far beyond the popular image of missiles or lasers. He explains that co-orbital satellites could manoeuvre alongside another spacecraft. Robotic arms could potentially interfere with satellites. Directed-energy weapons and high-power microwaves could disrupt systems, while kinetic vehicles could physically destroy targets. Cyber attacks, spoofing, and jamming could target the communications and command links connecting satellites to Earth. He also pointed to a particularly unconventional form of orbital warfare: forcing an adversary’s satellite to manoeuvre repeatedly until it exhausts its limited fuel. Gen. Pannu summed up the emerging American posture in stark terms: “They are ready to fight in the orbit to protect their celestial lines of communication.”

Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, Lt Gen P.J.S. Pannu (Retd.), GLOBAL SPACE FUTURES ADVISORY COUNCIL and former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, said the American announcement should not necessarily be interpreted as the sudden arrival of a new capability.

Space mines, lasers & robotic arms: Lt Gen Pannu decodes US disclosure of weapons in space

Modern air power is undergoing a major transformation as drones, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors and networked warfare reshape how nations control the skies. This video explores the biggest shifts in air warfare, the growing role of unmanned systems, and how emerging technologies are changing aerial combat, surveillance and battlefield strategy.

A big shift in modern air power & control 

The infantryman has always evolved with the battlefield. The Lee-Enfield gave way to the self-loading rifle, the INSAS and, today, weapons such as the AK-203 and SIG716. Night sights, body armour, secure communications and better anti-tank weapons steadily expanded what a soldier could do. But the latest transformation goes far beyond the rifle. Modern infantry increasingly operates alongside drones, thermal and optical sights, digital communications, counter-drone systems and precision weapons. The proliferation of FPV drones and loitering munitions in recent conflicts has also brought aerial surveillance and attack down to the level of small tactical units.&nbsp;WATCH:&nbsp;<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKwKXwYedeg&amp;list=PLKwyKu6LhauQ&amp;index=5"></oembed></figure> India is adapting to this battlefield. The Army has been developing new formations including Bhairav battalions and Ashni drone platoons, while UAS and counter-UAS capabilities have emerged as key modernisation priorities. The result could fundamentally change what it means to be an infantryman.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-weapons-stockpiles-military-bases-hit-in-iran-war-shortfall-of-munitions-us-watchdog-report-1789447762446">US weapons stockpiles, military bases hit in Iran war, shortfall of munitions: US watchdog report</a> And according to Colonel Shekhar Attri (Retd.), a decorated Indian Army Special Forces veteran and former Commanding Officer of 12 PARA (SF), the biggest change may be what the soldier can see, rather than what he can shoot. Speaking on WION's Defence Pulse, Attri summed it up strikingly. “The next war, he carries less of what he will shoot with and more of what he will see with”, he said. Attri argues that modern warfare is increasingly about shortening the OODA loop: observe, orient, decide and act. Technology is giving even small infantry teams far greater battlefield awareness. Drawing from his own combat experience, he recalled how troops could spend several nights in an ambush without knowing what was happening beyond nearby terrain. Today, a section commander could simply launch a quadcopter. “What would take four hours to climb a hill is done in four minutes.” But more technology does not necessarily mean more equipment. Attri believes soldiers need fewer systems that they can operate instinctively when combat begins. “Technology does win before the contact. But training is what wins during the war.” And perhaps the biggest revolution is the drone itself. Attri says drones have already gone beyond the role once occupied by the machine gun. “The drone is now every rank’s weapon.” His warning is that armies cannot afford a slow learning curve. “With drones, we do not have 20 years. Maybe two.” The soldier therefore remains at the centre of battle. But the rifleman is increasingly becoming something more: a shooter, sensor, drone operator and node in a much larger weapons network.

India is adapting to this battlefield. The Army has been developing new formations, including Bhairav battalions and Ashni drone platoons, while UAS and counter-UAS capabilities have emerged as key modernisation priorities. 

The infantryman has always evolved with the battlefield. The Lee-Enfield gave way to the self-loading rifle, the INSAS and, today, weapons such as the AK-203 and SIG716. Night sights, body armour, secure communications and better anti-tank weapons steadily expanded what a soldier could do. But the latest transformation goes far beyond the rifle. Modern infantry increasingly operates alongside drones, thermal and optical sights, digital communications, counter-drone systems and precision weapons. The proliferation of FPV drones and loitering munitions in recent conflicts has also brought aerial surveillance and attack down to the level of small tactical units. WATCH: India is adapting to this battlefield. The Army has been developing new formations including Bhairav battalions and Ashni drone platoons, while UAS and counter-UAS capabilities have emerged as key modernisation priorities. The result could fundamentally change what it means to be an infantryman. Also read: US weapons stockpiles, military bases hit in Iran war, shortfall of munitions: US watchdog report And according to Colonel Shekhar Attri (Retd.), a decorated Indian Army Special Forces veteran and former Commanding Officer of 12 PARA (SF), the biggest change may be what the soldier can see, rather than what he can shoot. Speaking on WION's Defence Pulse, Attri summed it up strikingly. “The next war, he carries less of what he will shoot with and more of what he will see with”, he said. Attri argues that modern warfare is increasingly about shortening the OODA loop: observe, orient, decide and act. Technology is giving even small infantry teams far greater battlefield awareness. Drawing from his own combat experience, he recalled how troops could spend several nights in an ambush without knowing what was happening beyond nearby terrain. Today, a section commander could simply launch a quadcopter. “What would take four hours to climb a hill is done in four minutes.” But more technology does not necessarily mean more equipment. Attri believes soldiers need fewer systems that they can operate instinctively when combat begins. “Technology does win before the contact. But training is what wins during the war.” And perhaps the biggest revolution is the drone itself. Attri says drones have already gone beyond the role once occupied by the machine gun. “The drone is now every rank’s weapon.” His warning is that armies cannot afford a slow learning curve. “With drones, we do not have 20 years. Maybe two.” The soldier therefore remains at the centre of battle. But the rifleman is increasingly becoming something more: a shooter, sensor, drone operator and node in a much larger weapons network.

India is adapting to this battlefield. The Army has been developing new formations, including Bhairav battalions and Ashni drone platoons, while UAS and counter-UAS capabilities have emerged as key modernisation priorities.&nbsp;

‘Technology wins before contact. Training wins the war’: How drones are reinventing India’s infantryman

Somewhere on a high Himalayan ridge, where the air is thin and the snow never fully leaves, a soldier waits for the sound of rotor blades. That sound can mean food, a spare part, a way home, or in the worst hours, a stretcher and a chance to live. Behind that one simple landing sit years of patient engineering, and the newest chapter of that work is about something most of us never think about while looking up at a helicopter: shaking.&nbsp;Hindustan Aeronautics Limited says its Light Utility Helicopter, the LUH, now shakes far less than before. After careful changes to the body of the aircraft itself, overall shaking has come down by 30 to 40 per cent. In one important kind of up-and-down shaking, the drop is close to 50 per cent. On paper these look like dry numbers from a test report. In real life, they touch almost everything the machine is meant to do.&nbsp;Think of a jeep on a bad village road. Passengers feel every bump, bags rattle, and bolts slowly loosen. A helicopter lives with a far harsher version of the same problem. The big main rotor keeps cutting through the air, the engine keeps producing power, the gearbox keeps sending that power upward, and the small tail rotor works without pause to hold the nose straight. All of this creates shake, and that shake travels into the body of the aircraft.&nbsp;What it reaches is what matters. It reaches the pilot, whose hands must stay steady after long hours in the air. It reaches soldiers and the wounded being carried out. It reaches radios, instruments and medical equipment that were never meant to be rattled for years on end. Over time it also reaches the metal and composites themselves, quietly wearing them out. Less shake therefore means a less tired crew, safer patients, longer-lasting parts, easier maintenance, and a helicopter that stays flying instead of sitting in a hangar.&nbsp;The need becomes sharper when you see where this machine must serve. The LUH is a single-engine helicopter of about 3.15 tonnes, built for moving troops, watching the ground, bringing out the injured, and carrying stores across difficult country. Above all, it is meant for India's high Himalayas, and height is a harsh teacher. The air grows thin, so the rotor has less to bite and the engine has less to breathe. Landing spots shrink to a ledge of rock. Weather can turn within minutes. Steep walls and narrow valleys leave almost no room for error. In such places, every extra kilogram and every extra shake becomes a risk.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-summit-2026-brics-of-the-future-from-partner-country-expansion-to-trade-mechanisms-what-could-change-what-might-not-1789297302659">BRICS of the future: From partner country expansion to trade mechanisms - what could change, what might not</a>&nbsp;This is also a story of taking over. The LUH is meant to replace the ageing Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that have served the Indian Armed Forces for decades, flying to some of the highest military posts on earth. Their record is a proud one, and that is exactly why their successor must earn trust the hard way.&nbsp;What makes this achievement interesting is how the shaking was reduced. Engineers did not simply add more pads and dampers. They changed the structure itself. Picture a wooden table that wobbles. You can push folded paper under one leg, or you can open up the joint and fix it properly. The second way is harder, and it is also far better. Small changes in shape, in where weight sits, and in stiffness can change how the whole aircraft behaves.&nbsp;Such care is necessary because of the way the LUH is built. Its main rotor does not use the old-style hinges, and its tail rotor does not use the old-style bearings. Older helicopters needed many moving joints so the blades could flap and flex. Here, that movement comes from the natural spring of composite materials, rather like a fishing rod bending where a hinge would otherwise open. Fewer moving parts mean less trouble later, but they also demand that the body of the helicopter be designed with great precision.&nbsp;The quiet lesson sits underneath the numbers. Building an Indian helicopter is only the first step. The harder work begins after the first flight: measure, question, improve, and keep improving until the crew who fly it, and the soldier waiting on a freezing ridge, can place their lives in it without a second thought. That is the real revolution here, not merely a new machine, but a machine that shakes less exactly where shaking can cost lives.

HAL has reduced vibrations in its Light Utility Helicopter by up to 40 per cent, improving its reliability and suitability for demanding high-altitude Himalayan operations.

Somewhere on a high Himalayan ridge, where the air is thin and the snow never fully leaves, a soldier waits for the sound of rotor blades. That sound can mean food, a spare part, a way home, or in the worst hours, a stretcher and a chance to live. Behind that one simple landing sit years of patient engineering, and the newest chapter of that work is about something most of us never think about while looking up at a helicopter: shaking. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited says its Light Utility Helicopter, the LUH, now shakes far less than before. After careful changes to the body of the aircraft itself, overall shaking has come down by 30 to 40 per cent. In one important kind of up-and-down shaking, the drop is close to 50 per cent. On paper these look like dry numbers from a test report. In real life, they touch almost everything the machine is meant to do. Think of a jeep on a bad village road. Passengers feel every bump, bags rattle, and bolts slowly loosen. A helicopter lives with a far harsher version of the same problem. The big main rotor keeps cutting through the air, the engine keeps producing power, the gearbox keeps sending that power upward, and the small tail rotor works without pause to hold the nose straight. All of this creates shake, and that shake travels into the body of the aircraft. What it reaches is what matters. It reaches the pilot, whose hands must stay steady after long hours in the air. It reaches soldiers and the wounded being carried out. It reaches radios, instruments and medical equipment that were never meant to be rattled for years on end. Over time it also reaches the metal and composites themselves, quietly wearing them out. Less shake therefore means a less tired crew, safer patients, longer-lasting parts, easier maintenance, and a helicopter that stays flying instead of sitting in a hangar. The need becomes sharper when you see where this machine must serve. The LUH is a single-engine helicopter of about 3.15 tonnes, built for moving troops, watching the ground, bringing out the injured, and carrying stores across difficult country. Above all, it is meant for India's high Himalayas, and height is a harsh teacher. The air grows thin, so the rotor has less to bite and the engine has less to breathe. Landing spots shrink to a ledge of rock. Weather can turn within minutes. Steep walls and narrow valleys leave almost no room for error. In such places, every extra kilogram and every extra shake becomes a risk. Also Read: BRICS of the future: From partner country expansion to trade mechanisms - what could change, what might not This is also a story of taking over. The LUH is meant to replace the ageing Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that have served the Indian Armed Forces for decades, flying to some of the highest military posts on earth. Their record is a proud one, and that is exactly why their successor must earn trust the hard way. What makes this achievement interesting is how the shaking was reduced. Engineers did not simply add more pads and dampers. They changed the structure itself. Picture a wooden table that wobbles. You can push folded paper under one leg, or you can open up the joint and fix it properly. The second way is harder, and it is also far better. Small changes in shape, in where weight sits, and in stiffness can change how the whole aircraft behaves. Such care is necessary because of the way the LUH is built. Its main rotor does not use the old-style hinges, and its tail rotor does not use the old-style bearings. Older helicopters needed many moving joints so the blades could flap and flex. Here, that movement comes from the natural spring of composite materials, rather like a fishing rod bending where a hinge would otherwise open. Fewer moving parts mean less trouble later, but they also demand that the body of the helicopter be designed with great precision. The quiet lesson sits underneath the numbers. Building an Indian helicopter is only the first step. The harder work begins after the first flight: measure, question, improve, and keep improving until the crew who fly it, and the soldier waiting on a freezing ridge, can place their lives in it without a second thought. That is the real revolution here, not merely a new machine, but a machine that shakes less exactly where shaking can cost lives.

HAL has reduced vibrations in its Light Utility Helicopter by up to 40 per cent, improving its reliability and suitability for demanding high-altitude Himalayan operations.

HAL’s LUH: Quiet over the ridges, curing the Himalayan wobble

More than four years of war in Ukraine have cost Russia heavily in soldiers, aircraft, armour, ships and military equipment. But the conflict has also provided Moscow with sustained combat experience against drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming, precision weapons and Western-supplied air-defence systems. That's intelligence and information that cannot simply be purchased.&nbsp;Some of those lessons are now becoming visible in Russia’s emerging weapons. At the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt, Moscow displayed several systems reflecting how its thinking has evolved. One of the clearest trends is the growing emphasis on unmanned and stand-off warfare, keeping expensive aircraft and personnel farther from enemy defences.&nbsp;<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPc_ssk36PI"></oembed></figure>&nbsp;Russia publicly displayed the concept of using the stealth aircraft SU-57 as an airborne launch and command platform for unmanned weapons. Instead of sending the fighter deep into defended airspace, drones and stand-off weapons could penetrate ahead of it.&nbsp;Russia’s Geran programme is evolving too. The Shahed-derived, propeller-driven attack drone has been supplemented by newer jet-powered variants, reflecting the constant contest between Russian strike systems and Ukrainian interception. Another lesson concerns economics. Modern warfare requires not only sophisticated weapons but enough of them to sustain prolonged combat. Systems such as the Dan-T, with a reported a range of up to 450 kms derived from the combat-used S8000 Banderol.&nbsp;&nbsp;Russia has showcased the Pantsir-SMD-E and upgraded Pantsir-S1M, alongside smaller interceptors intended to tackle drones and precision weapons more economically. The TKB-1167 takes the logic further, using machine guns against small, low-flying drones rather than expensive missiles.&nbsp;At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Garpia-A1E, marketed as a long-range loitering munition with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres.Individually, these systems may not represent a revolution. The transformation lies in how they fit together. Long-range drones provide mass. Stand-off weapons protect aircraft. Electronic warfare disrupts the enemy. Layered air defence counters incoming threats. Cheaper interceptors improve the economics of defence. Ukraine has exposed serious weaknesses in Russia’s military. But it has also forced Moscow to adapt.&nbsp;

The Ukraine war has cost Russia heavily but also given Moscow years of combat experience with drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming and Western weapons. Those lessons are now shaping Russian systems, from SU-57-linked drones and Geran variants to layered, lower-cost air defence.

More than four years of war in Ukraine have cost Russia heavily in soldiers, aircraft, armour, ships and military equipment. But the conflict has also provided Moscow with sustained combat experience against drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming, precision weapons and Western-supplied air-defence systems. That's intelligence and information that cannot simply be purchased. Some of those lessons are now becoming visible in Russia’s emerging weapons. At the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt, Moscow displayed several systems reflecting how its thinking has evolved. One of the clearest trends is the growing emphasis on unmanned and stand-off warfare, keeping expensive aircraft and personnel farther from enemy defences. Russia publicly displayed the concept of using the stealth aircraft SU-57 as an airborne launch and command platform for unmanned weapons. Instead of sending the fighter deep into defended airspace, drones and stand-off weapons could penetrate ahead of it. Russia’s Geran programme is evolving too. The Shahed-derived, propeller-driven attack drone has been supplemented by newer jet-powered variants, reflecting the constant contest between Russian strike systems and Ukrainian interception. Another lesson concerns economics. Modern warfare requires not only sophisticated weapons but enough of them to sustain prolonged combat. Systems such as the Dan-T, with a reported a range of up to 450 kms derived from the combat-used S8000 Banderol. Russia has showcased the Pantsir-SMD-E and upgraded Pantsir-S1M, alongside smaller interceptors intended to tackle drones and precision weapons more economically. The TKB-1167 takes the logic further, using machine guns against small, low-flying drones rather than expensive missiles. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Garpia-A1E, marketed as a long-range loitering munition with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres. Individually, these systems may not represent a revolution. The transformation lies in how they fit together. Long-range drones provide mass. Stand-off weapons protect aircraft. Electronic warfare disrupts the enemy. Layered air defence counters incoming threats. Cheaper interceptors improve the economics of defence. Ukraine has exposed serious weaknesses in Russia’s military. But it has also forced Moscow to adapt.

The Ukraine war has cost Russia heavily but also given Moscow years of combat experience with drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming and Western weapons. Those lessons are now shaping Russian systems, from SU-57-linked drones and Geran variants to layered, lower-cost air defence.

War is making Russia stronger? How Ukraine is shaping Moscow’s next generation of weapons

The Russia-Ukraine war is entering a new phase of escalation. Russia has launched fresh strikes, including an attack on a shopping centre, while Ukraine is increasingly turning to unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to strengthen its battlefield capabilities. Ukraine's Third Army Corps has reportedly deployed robotic systems to frontline positions, highlighting the growing role of autonomous and remote-controlled technologies in modern warfare as both sides seek new tactical advantages.


Russia-Ukraine war: Russia hits shopping centre as Ukraine deploys ground robots to frontline

Fresh reports have raised questions about the role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare after claims emerged that a Yemen-based cell linked to the Houthis used AI tools, including Anthropic's Claude, while working on a long-range ballistic missile project. The missile is reportedly capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometres away. The revelations have intensified concerns over how advanced AI systems could be exploited for military applications, fuelling a broader debate about safeguards, oversight and the future of warfare.


Houthis' AI missile project? Report links Claude to long-range weapons development

BRICS may look united on stage, but its 11 members are pulling in different strategic directions, Russia, China and Iran lean toward sovereignty and anti-intervention, while others balance ties with the West differently. Still, terrorism, cyber threats and emerging tech risks are pushing them toward common ground. India's June 2026 National Security Advisers' meeting showed security is no longer a side issue for BRICS, it's becoming central to how the bloc defines itself.


BRICS Summit 2026: The search for a common security agenda

The most powerful missile, the most sophisticated fighter or the longest-range artillery system is only as effective as the information reaching the people operating it and the fluidity with which they communicate amongst themselves. As warfare becomes increasingly networked, secure communication is emerging as one of the battlefield's most critical capabilities. Be it crews operating aircraft, armoured vehicles or artillery, they must remain connected even in extreme noise and hostile electronic environments. India is placing growing emphasis on this challenge.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indian Army has identified 2026 as its “Year of Networking and Data Centricity”, reflecting the growing importance of connecting sensors, decision-makers and weapons across the battlefield. The challenge, however, extends beyond encryption and secure networks. A soldier or aircrew member still needs to clearly hear and communicate while surrounded by rotor noise, wind, engines or weapons fire. Speaking on WION's Defence Pulse, Klaus Frühwirth, Chief Commercial Officer of Norwegian mission-critical communications company Axnes, said communications are becoming increasingly central to modern military operations. “In modern operations, communication is increasingly more mission-critical than ever. Good, reliable communication in loud and challenging environments is very, very important,” said Frühwirth.&nbsp;Frühwirth, an aviator with more than two decades of aerospace and defence industry experience, highlighted the changing demands placed on military communications. In a helicopter, for instance, personnel may need to leave their fixed positions, move around the aircraft or even be lowered by hoist into a combat or rescue zone while remaining connected.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-invisible-network-keeping-soldiers-connected-1789052687169/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-invisible-network-keeping-soldiers-connected-1789052687169/embed</a>&nbsp;“Communication on the front end has to be very simple. It has to be intuitive. The user must not think about the communication. They just want to talk and it has to work,” Frühwirth told WION. He further adds that networks are becoming far more integrated, connecting multiple radios and communication loops. The communications system is therefore evolving from an accessory into part of the “communication backbone” of helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles and gun systems.&nbsp;India is also attracting global communications companies as its defence manufacturing ecosystem expands. Frühwirth described India as an “extremely interesting” market with strong capabilities across aviation, gun systems and ground vehicles, adding that Axnes is interested in cooperating with Indian companies. In tomorrow's battlefield, weapons will increasingly be connected nodes in a larger combat network. The weapon may deliver the strike. But communications make the strike possible.

As warfare becomes increasingly networked, secure communication is emerging as one of the battlefield's most critical capabilities

The most powerful missile, the most sophisticated fighter or the longest-range artillery system is only as effective as the information reaching the people operating it and the fluidity with which they communicate amongst themselves. As warfare becomes increasingly networked, secure communication is emerging as one of the battlefield's most critical capabilities. Be it crews operating aircraft, armoured vehicles or artillery, they must remain connected even in extreme noise and hostile electronic environments. India is placing growing emphasis on this challenge. The Indian Army has identified 2026 as its “Year of Networking and Data Centricity”, reflecting the growing importance of connecting sensors, decision-makers and weapons across the battlefield. The challenge, however, extends beyond encryption and secure networks. A soldier or aircrew member still needs to clearly hear and communicate while surrounded by rotor noise, wind, engines or weapons fire. Speaking on WION's Defence Pulse, Klaus Frühwirth, Chief Commercial Officer of Norwegian mission-critical communications company Axnes, said communications are becoming increasingly central to modern military operations. “In modern operations, communication is increasingly more mission-critical than ever. Good, reliable communication in loud and challenging environments is very, very important,” said Frühwirth. Frühwirth, an aviator with more than two decades of aerospace and defence industry experience, highlighted the changing demands placed on military communications. In a helicopter, for instance, personnel may need to leave their fixed positions, move around the aircraft or even be lowered by hoist into a combat or rescue zone while remaining connected. https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-invisible-network-keeping-soldiers-connected-1789052687169/embed “Communication on the front end has to be very simple. It has to be intuitive. The user must not think about the communication. They just want to talk and it has to work,” Frühwirth told WION. He further adds that networks are becoming far more integrated, connecting multiple radios and communication loops. The communications system is therefore evolving from an accessory into part of the “communication backbone” of helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles and gun systems. India is also attracting global communications companies as its defence manufacturing ecosystem expands. Frühwirth described India as an “extremely interesting” market with strong capabilities across aviation, gun systems and ground vehicles, adding that Axnes is interested in cooperating with Indian companies. In tomorrow's battlefield, weapons will increasingly be connected nodes in a larger combat network. The weapon may deliver the strike. But communications make the strike possible.

As warfare becomes increasingly networked, secure communication is emerging as one of the battlefield's most critical capabilities

The invisible weapon: Why communications can decide modern wars

BRICS is usually measured in GDP, population, trade and energy. But place the expanded grouping on a military map and another picture emerges: a significant concentration of nuclear weapons, missile forces, major armies, naval power, defence industries and strategic geography. At its centre are Russia, India and China, three nuclear-armed powers representing distinct models of military strength.&nbsp;Russia brings strategic nuclear depth, a formidable missile arsenal, advanced air-defence systems, nuclear submarines and a defence industry operating under the pressures of years of war in Ukraine. Its recent combat experience has also provided lessons in drones, electronic warfare, ammunition consumption and sustaining military production during prolonged conflict.India represents a different model.&nbsp;&nbsp;Its nuclear deterrent, Agni missiles, BrahMos, aircraft carriers, ballistic-missile submarines and increasingly sophisticated air and missile defences are reinforced by its commanding position in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, India's growing indigenous defence ecosystem is steadily expanding its ability to manufacture missiles, warships, artillery, aircraft, drones and electronic systems. China's strength lies in combining military modernisation with enormous industrial capacity. The PLA operates the world's largest navy by number of battle-force ships, fields the J-20 stealth fighter and possesses a vast conventional missile arsenal. Its expanding capabilities in space, cyber warfare, drones and autonomous systems add another dimension to Chinese hard power.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/brics-military-map-the-world-s-new-centres-of-hard-power-1789053586002/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/brics-military-map-the-world-s-new-centres-of-hard-power-1789053586002/embed</a>&nbsp;Beyond the three heavyweights, BRICS brings together other specialised centres of military capability. Iran has demonstrated considerable missile, drone and asymmetric-warfare capabilities. Brazil possesses a significant aerospace industry. Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate advanced combat aircraft and are investing in domestic defence production. Egypt combines substantial military strength with the strategic significance of the Suez Canal, while Indonesia occupies a critical position along Indo-Pacific maritime routes.&nbsp;Speaking to former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Satish Dua on WION's Defence Pulse, he highlighted the scale of the grouping's military weight. "Russia is the second largest military today, China is the third largest military, and India is the fourth largest military... it's a very good hard-power combination of three countries alone."&nbsp;The uniqueness of India's foreign policy requires a thorough study from other nations. Afterall,&nbsp;India can sit with Russia and China in BRICS, while simultaneously exercising with the United States, France, Japan and Australia. &nbsp;For Dua, India's distinguishing strength goes beyond weapons. "Very few countries, if any at all, possess the kind of strategic autonomy that India seems to be able to leverage today. We are engaging with both the West and the East and the Global South."&nbsp;That distinction is important. BRICS is not a military alliance and possesses no collective-defence clause or integrated military command. Its members have different strategic priorities. But from the Arctic and Eurasia to Hormuz, Suez, the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific sea lanes, the expanded BRICS brings together an extraordinary combination of military capability, industrial capacity and strategic geography. When one looks at BRICS beyond the prism of economic power, one should not miss&nbsp;how much of the world's hard power now sits there too.

BRICS is not a military alliance and possesses no collective-defence clause or integrated military command. Its members have different strategic priorities

BRICS is usually measured in GDP, population, trade and energy. But place the expanded grouping on a military map and another picture emerges: a significant concentration of nuclear weapons, missile forces, major armies, naval power, defence industries and strategic geography. At its centre are Russia, India and China, three nuclear-armed powers representing distinct models of military strength. Russia brings strategic nuclear depth, a formidable missile arsenal, advanced air-defence systems, nuclear submarines and a defence industry operating under the pressures of years of war in Ukraine. Its recent combat experience has also provided lessons in drones, electronic warfare, ammunition consumption and sustaining military production during prolonged conflict. India represents a different model. Its nuclear deterrent, Agni missiles, BrahMos, aircraft carriers, ballistic-missile submarines and increasingly sophisticated air and missile defences are reinforced by its commanding position in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, India's growing indigenous defence ecosystem is steadily expanding its ability to manufacture missiles, warships, artillery, aircraft, drones and electronic systems. China's strength lies in combining military modernisation with enormous industrial capacity. The PLA operates the world's largest navy by number of battle-force ships, fields the J-20 stealth fighter and possesses a vast conventional missile arsenal. Its expanding capabilities in space, cyber warfare, drones and autonomous systems add another dimension to Chinese hard power. https://www.wionews.com/videos/brics-military-map-the-world-s-new-centres-of-hard-power-1789053586002/embed Beyond the three heavyweights, BRICS brings together other specialised centres of military capability. Iran has demonstrated considerable missile, drone and asymmetric-warfare capabilities. Brazil possesses a significant aerospace industry. Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate advanced combat aircraft and are investing in domestic defence production. Egypt combines substantial military strength with the strategic significance of the Suez Canal, while Indonesia occupies a critical position along Indo-Pacific maritime routes. Speaking to former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Satish Dua on WION's Defence Pulse, he highlighted the scale of the grouping's military weight. "Russia is the second largest military today, China is the third largest military, and India is the fourth largest military... it's a very good hard-power combination of three countries alone." The uniqueness of India's foreign policy requires a thorough study from other nations. Afterall, India can sit with Russia and China in BRICS, while simultaneously exercising with the United States, France, Japan and Australia. For Dua, India's distinguishing strength goes beyond weapons. "Very few countries, if any at all, possess the kind of strategic autonomy that India seems to be able to leverage today. We are engaging with both the West and the East and the Global South." That distinction is important. BRICS is not a military alliance and possesses no collective-defence clause or integrated military command. Its members have different strategic priorities. But from the Arctic and Eurasia to Hormuz, Suez, the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific sea lanes, the expanded BRICS brings together an extraordinary combination of military capability, industrial capacity and strategic geography. When one looks at BRICS beyond the prism of economic power, one should not miss how much of the world's hard power now sits there too.

BRICS is not a military alliance and possesses no collective-defence clause or integrated military command. Its members have different strategic priorities

How much military power now sits inside the expanded BRICS?

India’s growing economic and military weight, China’s vast industrial scale and Russia’s formidable arsenal make the BRICS bloc a major emerging force in global power politics. From defence capabilities and nuclear strength to economic and technological influence, the BRICS hard-power map reveals how its key powers stack up.

BRICS military map: The world's new centres of hard power

The Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) is the US Army’s tactical communications backbone, providing secure and uninterrupted voice, video and data connectivity to soldiers on the battlefield. The network enables forces to stay connected and share critical information in fast-moving combat environments.

The invisible network keeping soldiers connected

Kashmiri Pandit employees recruited under the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation package staged protests in Srinagar, demanding secure accommodation and stronger security assurances. The employees have set September 30 as a deadline for action on their demands.

JK: Terror threat issued to Kashmiri Pandit employees

India is emerging as an increasingly important classroom for modern air combat. The immediate example is Veer Guardian 2026, where Japan’s F-2 fighters are operating from Indian soil for a joint exercise for the first time. At Jodhpur, they are training alongside three very different Indian fighters: the Russian-origin Su-30MKI, French Rafale and indigenous Tejas. The attraction goes beyond flying another country’s aircraft.&nbsp;India offers an unusual combination of dissimilar fighters, large training airspace and diverse operating environments. The Indian Air Force has spent decades operating aircraft, weapons and sensors originating from different technological ecosystems. It creates a distinctive training environment for visiting forces.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/defence-pulse/russia-su-57-drone-swarms-future-air-warfare-1788955371608">Su-57’s Drone army: Russia turns stealth fighter into an airborne commander</a>&nbsp;India's geography adds another dimension, from Rajasthan’s deserts and vast airspace to high-altitude and maritime operating environments.And Veer Guardian is part of a larger trend. With multinational Tarang Shakti 2026 expected to follow, India is increasingly becoming a place where different air forces can test interoperability, mission planning and tactics against unfamiliar aircraft and operating philosophies.On WION's Defence Pulse, I asked former Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, what pilots actually learn when unfamiliar fighters meet?&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/defence-pulse/when-sound-becomes-a-weapon-india-explores-dhwani-to-bring-down-drones-1788833493934">When sound becomes a weapon: India explores ‘dhwani’ to bring down drones</a>&nbsp;He said modern air combat is no longer about comparing individual aircraft characteristics alone. “A fighter aircraft today is not simply a platform. There are a whole lot of sensors.” Kapoor said the real exercise involves understanding how information is collected, communicated from command-and-control systems, absorbed by pilots and ultimately converted into combat action.&nbsp;I also asked Air Marshal Kapoor about how much information is revealed even to friendly forces in a joint drill, he explained there are limits to what participating countries reveal. Kapoor said such exercises are planned six to eight months in advance, with missions and boundaries agreed beforehand. “Whatever is in the open domain is laid out.”&nbsp;So why travel thousands of kilometres to India?Kapoor points to India’s Russian, French and indigenous aircraft mix, its extensive airspace, geography, climate and growing experience of multinational exercises. He described India’s diverse fleet as offering visiting air forces a “huge platter to choose from.” And the learning works both ways. “They come to us because we’ve got the experience, and when we fly with them, we get the experience.” That may ultimately explain India’s growing attraction. Foreign air forces are not simply coming to India to fly. They are coming to encounter aircraft, environments and ways of fighting they do not encounter at home.&nbsp;

India is emerging as a key classroom for modern air combat, with Japan’s F-2 fighters training alongside India’s Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas during Veer Guardian 2026. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor explains why India’s diverse fighters, geography and airspace attract foreign air forces.

India is emerging as an increasingly important classroom for modern air combat. The immediate example is Veer Guardian 2026, where Japan’s F-2 fighters are operating from Indian soil for a joint exercise for the first time. At Jodhpur, they are training alongside three very different Indian fighters: the Russian-origin Su-30MKI, French Rafale and indigenous Tejas. The attraction goes beyond flying another country’s aircraft. India offers an unusual combination of dissimilar fighters, large training airspace and diverse operating environments. The Indian Air Force has spent decades operating aircraft, weapons and sensors originating from different technological ecosystems. It creates a distinctive training environment for visiting forces. Also Read: Su-57’s Drone army: Russia turns stealth fighter into an airborne commander India's geography adds another dimension, from Rajasthan’s deserts and vast airspace to high-altitude and maritime operating environments. And Veer Guardian is part of a larger trend. With multinational Tarang Shakti 2026 expected to follow, India is increasingly becoming a place where different air forces can test interoperability, mission planning and tactics against unfamiliar aircraft and operating philosophies. On WION's Defence Pulse, I asked former Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, what pilots actually learn when unfamiliar fighters meet? Also Read: When sound becomes a weapon: India explores ‘dhwani’ to bring down drones He said modern air combat is no longer about comparing individual aircraft characteristics alone. “A fighter aircraft today is not simply a platform. There are a whole lot of sensors.” Kapoor said the real exercise involves understanding how information is collected, communicated from command-and-control systems, absorbed by pilots and ultimately converted into combat action. I also asked Air Marshal Kapoor about how much information is revealed even to friendly forces in a joint drill, he explained there are limits to what participating countries reveal. Kapoor said such exercises are planned six to eight months in advance, with missions and boundaries agreed beforehand. “Whatever is in the open domain is laid out.” So why travel thousands of kilometres to India? Kapoor points to India’s Russian, French and indigenous aircraft mix, its extensive airspace, geography, climate and growing experience of multinational exercises. He described India’s diverse fleet as offering visiting air forces a “huge platter to choose from.” And the learning works both ways. “They come to us because we’ve got the experience, and when we fly with them, we get the experience.” That may ultimately explain India’s growing attraction. Foreign air forces are not simply coming to India to fly. They are coming to encounter aircraft, environments and ways of fighting they do not encounter at home.

India is emerging as a key classroom for modern air combat, with Japan’s F-2 fighters training alongside India’s Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas during Veer Guardian 2026. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor explains why India’s diverse fighters, geography and airspace attract foreign air forces.

India’s skies go global: Why the world’s fighter jets are coming to train

India-Japan defence cooperation gets a major boost as Japanese F-2 fighter jets arrive in Jodhpur for Vir Guardian 2026, training alongside the Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKIs, Rafales and Tejas.

The exercise gives both air forces an opportunity to conduct advanced operational missions, mission planning and specialist exchanges while learning from different aircraft, tactics and operating procedures.

Japan’s F-2 is particularly significant, with the fighter derived from the F-16 design but extensively modified with Japanese avionics, composite materials, larger wings and an AESA radar. For Indian pilots, training against such a different platform provides valuable dissimilar air combat experience.

India’s diverse fighter fleet also makes the country an attractive destination for international air exercises. Foreign air forces can train alongside aircraft originating from Russian, French and Indian design ecosystems while operating across India’s vast airspace and varied geography.

The report also examines how India and Japan are working to increase the complexity of bilateral exercises and how upcoming multinational drills such as Tarang Shakti could further expand air combat cooperation.

Watch the full report for an in-depth look at Vir Guardian 2026, Japan’s F-2 fighters and why India is becoming an increasingly important hub for multinational air combat training.


India-Japan Air Drill | Japanese F-2 Fighters Arrive For Vir Guardian 2026 In Jodhpur

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says India and Sri Lanka share deep historical and civilizational ties, with the Indian Ocean serving as a key link between the two nations. He stressed Sri Lanka’s strategic location along major global trade routes and called for closer cooperation on regional growth and security.

First Indian defence minister visit to Sri Lanka in 38 years

Optimus Viper is a compact, agile space security vehicle designed to inspect, monitor and protect critical satellites and other assets in orbit. Developed by Space Machines Company, it represents a new approach to rapid-response space operations.

Australia's space guardian satellite 'Optimus Viper'

The fighter jet of the future may not fly into battle alone. Instead, it could command an entire formation of unmanned aircraft, sending drones ahead to detect threats, jam radars, deceive air defences and strike targets.Russia is now pushing this concept around its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter.Russian defence conglomerate Rostec is showcasing low-observable unmanned aircraft designed to operate with the Su-57. The concept points towards a fundamental change in air warfare: the fighter evolving from a standalone combat aircraft into an airborne command node for drones.Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, former Indian Air Force fighter pilot Air Marshal Anil Chopra explained why manned-unmanned teaming could transform operations in heavily defended airspace.“The manned aircraft could be the mother aircraft, the controller, and there could be a large number of drones which could act either as loyal wingmen or could even be a swarm.”Such drones could perform different tasks. Some could fly ahead as decoys, others could carry sensors for reconnaissance and targeting, while electronic warfare drones could attempt to disrupt enemy systems. Armed unmanned aircraft could eventually carry out strikes, allowing the expensive crewed fighter to remain farther from the most dangerous air defences.The concept is not uniquely Russian. The United States is developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft, including the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A prototypes, while China is pursuing its own advanced unmanned combat aircraft and manned-unmanned teaming concepts.The challenge is what happens inside the cockpit.A fighter pilot already has to fly the aircraft, monitor sensors, track threats and employ weapons. Controlling multiple drones simultaneously could create an enormous workload. This is where artificial intelligence and greater drone autonomy become critical.Chopra believes the drones cannot depend on the pilot for every decision.“There will be a high degree of autonomy that will have to be given to the drones after a target has been assigned or a job has been assigned.”The transformation could change the economics and risks of air warfare as well. Relatively expendable drones can be pushed into highly contested airspace before a valuable fighter and its pilot. The fighter jet, therefore, may not disappear. Its role could become even more important. Instead of being the lone hunter in the sky, it could become the commander of a flying army.

Russia is developing unmanned aircraft designed to work with the Su-57, pointing to a future where fighter jets command drones in combat.

The fighter jet of the future may not fly into battle alone. Instead, it could command an entire formation of unmanned aircraft, sending drones ahead to detect threats, jam radars, deceive air defences and strike targets. Russia is now pushing this concept around its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter. Russian defence conglomerate Rostec is showcasing low-observable unmanned aircraft designed to operate with the Su-57. The concept points towards a fundamental change in air warfare: the fighter evolving from a standalone combat aircraft into an airborne command node for drones. Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, former Indian Air Force fighter pilot Air Marshal Anil Chopra explained why manned-unmanned teaming could transform operations in heavily defended airspace. “The manned aircraft could be the mother aircraft, the controller, and there could be a large number of drones which could act either as loyal wingmen or could even be a swarm.” Such drones could perform different tasks. Some could fly ahead as decoys, others could carry sensors for reconnaissance and targeting, while electronic warfare drones could attempt to disrupt enemy systems. Armed unmanned aircraft could eventually carry out strikes, allowing the expensive crewed fighter to remain farther from the most dangerous air defences. The concept is not uniquely Russian. The United States is developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft, including the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A prototypes, while China is pursuing its own advanced unmanned combat aircraft and manned-unmanned teaming concepts. The challenge is what happens inside the cockpit. A fighter pilot already has to fly the aircraft, monitor sensors, track threats and employ weapons. Controlling multiple drones simultaneously could create an enormous workload. This is where artificial intelligence and greater drone autonomy become critical. Chopra believes the drones cannot depend on the pilot for every decision. “There will be a high degree of autonomy that will have to be given to the drones after a target has been assigned or a job has been assigned.” The transformation could change the economics and risks of air warfare as well. Relatively expendable drones can be pushed into highly contested airspace before a valuable fighter and its pilot. The fighter jet, therefore, may not disappear. Its role could become even more important. Instead of being the lone hunter in the sky, it could become the commander of a flying army.

Russia is developing unmanned aircraft designed to work with the Su-57, pointing to a future where fighter jets command drones in combat.

Su-57’s Drone army: Russia turns stealth fighter into an airborne commander

Russia is adapting its Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter to function as an airborne mothership capable of launching, recovering, and coordinating swarms of multi-role mini-drones. This configuration allows the crewed aircraft to remain at a safe stand-off distance while dispatching low-observable unmanned vehicles for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strikes. 


Russia turns SU-57 into a mothership for stealth drones | Future of air warfare

Su-57 drone integration could reshape Russia's air combat

What can hyperspectral satellites really see from space? Unlike conventional satellites, they capture hundreds of wavelengths of light, revealing hidden details about vegetation, minerals, water, pollution and even changes on the ground that the human eye cannot detect.

What can hyperspectral satellites see?

India is accelerating efforts to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem that could eventually provide the critical electronics, sensors and chips powering its next generation of defence systems.&nbsp;The government notified the ambitious Semicon 2.0 scheme on August 31, 2026, with an outlay of ₹1.275 lakh crore. The programme seeks to expand India’s semiconductor ambitions beyond manufacturing by supporting the entire ecosystem, including chip design, equipment, materials, advanced packaging, research and skilled manpower.&nbsp;The strategic implications extend well beyond the electronics industry. Modern drones, missiles, surveillance systems and other military platforms increasingly depend on sophisticated semiconductors and sensors for navigation, processing, targeting and autonomous functions.

Speaking on WION’s Defence Pulse, Rajendra Chodankar, Chairman and CEO of RRP Group of Companies, said India is moving towards addressing these critical requirements.&nbsp;“India is making some bold steps,” Chodankar said, pointing to the expansion of the semiconductor programme. He said Semicon 2.0 promises wider coverage of “equipment, materials, training and skills”, helping create a broader domestic ecosystem.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-warned-netanyahu-of-hamas-operation-days-before-october-7-attack-report-1788876455659">UAE warned Netanyahu of Hamas operation days before October 7 attack: Report</a>&nbsp;India has developed considerable expertise in integrating complex systems, but Chodankar believes the next leap must happen at the component level.&nbsp;“India is very good at system integration and assembly. When it comes to critical technologies, we need to really get into the component level,” he said, adding that sensors are particularly strategic.Chodankar believes sustained focus over the next three years could significantly strengthen India’s ability to develop its own electronic chips.&nbsp;Under India’s first semiconductor programme, 12 manufacturing units have been approved involving investments exceeding ₹1.64 lakh crore, while Micron, Kaynes and CG Semi have begun commercial production. Twenty-four startup and MSME design projects have also received financial support.&nbsp;For Chodankar, the next priority is clear: domestic component manufacturing and ownership of critical technologies.&nbsp;“We need to have our own fabs,” he said. “Critical technologies at the component level are the need of the hour.”&nbsp;For India’s defence sector, Semicon 2.0 could therefore become about much more than chips. It could help build the technological foundation for a more self-reliant generation of intelligent weapons and military systems.

The Semicon 2.0 scheme aims to strengthen India’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem and support the development of critical chips, sensors and components for next-generation defence systems.

India is accelerating efforts to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem that could eventually provide the critical electronics, sensors and chips powering its next generation of defence systems. The government notified the ambitious Semicon 2.0 scheme on August 31, 2026, with an outlay of ₹1.275 lakh crore. The programme seeks to expand India’s semiconductor ambitions beyond manufacturing by supporting the entire ecosystem, including chip design, equipment, materials, advanced packaging, research and skilled manpower. The strategic implications extend well beyond the electronics industry. Modern drones, missiles, surveillance systems and other military platforms increasingly depend on sophisticated semiconductors and sensors for navigation, processing, targeting and autonomous functions.

The Semicon 2.0 scheme aims to strengthen India’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem and support the development of critical chips, sensors and components for next-generation defence systems.

Semicon 2.0: India pushes to build the chips powering its defence future

Across the ages, Indian tradition has carried accounts of ‘dhwani’, or sound, possessing extraordinary power. Stories associated with Dashanan speak of his mastery over sound and vibration, while Indian musical tradition remembers Tansen and Raag Megh Malhar, said to have had the power to bring rain. Now, Indian scientists are exploring whether sound can be harnessed against one of the modern battlefield’s biggest threats: the drone.&nbsp;Scientists at Chandigarh’s Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) have developed an experimental acoustic counter-drone system using high-intensity sound. The technology reportedly seeks to interfere with the MEMS gyroscope that helps a drone maintain its balance and orientation. But sound is only one part of India’s emerging non-kinetic warfare landscape.&nbsp;Recent reports based on a DRDO Technology Development Fund tender refer to SHIELD, an S-band High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System intended to evaluate the effects of powerful microwave energy on electronic systems. High-power microwaves could potentially interfere with or damage vulnerable electronics without physically striking the target. This could eventually have significant applications against drones and particularly saturation attacks involving multiple UAVs.&nbsp;Speaking to WION’s Defence Pulse, Dr Prahlada Ramarao, known as the father of India’s Akash missile, said acoustic energy itself can potentially be weaponised. “Acoustic energy can be used as a destructive weapon. Sound, amplitude, frequency and the angle can be managed in such a way that the drone becomes ineffective,” Ramarao said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/can-sound-frequencies-bring-down-enemy-drones-1788793529900/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/can-sound-frequencies-bring-down-enemy-drones-1788793529900/embed</a>&nbsp;He warned that acoustic systems face significant challenges involving beam width, intensity and the ability to effectively influence sensors inside a drone, requiring deeper scientific and engineering work. The larger transformation could fundamentally change air defence. Cheap drones have created an economic problem for militaries forced to expend costly interceptors against inexpensive threats. Electronic warfare, acoustic systems, lasers and high-power microwaves could offer additional layers before a missile needs to be fired.&nbsp;Dr. Ramarao believes this hierarchy will increasingly define future air defence. “A missile is the last effort to kill a target. A missile takes time, its travel time is in seconds, whereas microwaves act almost instantaneously. So you would like to try electromagnetic waves, including lasers, first, and only then go for the physical firing of a missile,” Dr Ramarao told WION. The missile will remain indispensable against sophisticated aircraft and strategic threats. But against tomorrow’s drone swarms, energy could increasingly become the ammunition, and the missile the last resort.

India develops acoustic counter-drone and high-power microwave technologies as scientists explore next-generation non-kinetic weapons for air defence

Across the ages, Indian tradition has carried accounts of ‘dhwani’, or sound, possessing extraordinary power. Stories associated with Dashanan speak of his mastery over sound and vibration, while Indian musical tradition remembers Tansen and Raag Megh Malhar, said to have had the power to bring rain. Now, Indian scientists are exploring whether sound can be harnessed against one of the modern battlefield’s biggest threats: the drone. Scientists at Chandigarh’s Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) have developed an experimental acoustic counter-drone system using high-intensity sound. The technology reportedly seeks to interfere with the MEMS gyroscope that helps a drone maintain its balance and orientation. But sound is only one part of India’s emerging non-kinetic warfare landscape. Recent reports based on a DRDO Technology Development Fund tender refer to SHIELD, an S-band High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System intended to evaluate the effects of powerful microwave energy on electronic systems. High-power microwaves could potentially interfere with or damage vulnerable electronics without physically striking the target. This could eventually have significant applications against drones and particularly saturation attacks involving multiple UAVs. Speaking to WION’s Defence Pulse, Dr Prahlada Ramarao, known as the father of India’s Akash missile, said acoustic energy itself can potentially be weaponised. “Acoustic energy can be used as a destructive weapon. Sound, amplitude, frequency and the angle can be managed in such a way that the drone becomes ineffective,” Ramarao said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/can-sound-frequencies-bring-down-enemy-drones-1788793529900/embed He warned that acoustic systems face significant challenges involving beam width, intensity and the ability to effectively influence sensors inside a drone, requiring deeper scientific and engineering work. The larger transformation could fundamentally change air defence. Cheap drones have created an economic problem for militaries forced to expend costly interceptors against inexpensive threats. Electronic warfare, acoustic systems, lasers and high-power microwaves could offer additional layers before a missile needs to be fired. Dr. Ramarao believes this hierarchy will increasingly define future air defence. “A missile is the last effort to kill a target. A missile takes time, its travel time is in seconds, whereas microwaves act almost instantaneously. So you would like to try electromagnetic waves, including lasers, first, and only then go for the physical firing of a missile,” Dr Ramarao told WION. The missile will remain indispensable against sophisticated aircraft and strategic threats. But against tomorrow’s drone swarms, energy could increasingly become the ammunition, and the missile the last resort.

Indian scientists are developing acoustic and high-power microwave systems to counter drones, offering new non-kinetic options for future air defence

When sound becomes a weapon: India explores ‘dhwani’ to bring down drones

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