NEW DELHI, November 12, 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged India’s armed forces to bolster their operational readiness by enhancing technological superiority, focusing on both offensive and defensive capabilities to counter conventional and emerging threats driven by rapid technological advancements and the evolving nature of modern warfare. He stressed the importance of sustaining the ‘element of surprise’ in military operations.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Singh was addressing the Air Force Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on November 12, 2026. During his address, he emphasised the imperative to strengthen intelligence and surveillance mechanisms, improve integration among defence systems, and proactively identify potential threats before they materialise. The Defence Minister articulated that contemporary conflicts extend beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains, with missiles, drones, and advanced weapon systems playing increasingly crucial roles.
Citing recent conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, Singh highlighted the critical role of drones and air defence systems in modern combat scenarios. He exhorted Air Force commanders to maintain vigilance and preparedness for emergent challenges, including the operational use of kamikaze drones, advanced surveillance capabilities, and effective counter-drone operations. Singh underscored that future military victories would depend significantly on technological sophistication, speed of response, and precision in execution, rather than solely on the numerical strength of assets like aircraft.
The Defence Minister called upon the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop dedicated doctrines and architectures for emerging warfare domains, specifically mentioning electronic warfare, cyber warfare, and space warfare. He asserted that enhanced preparedness in these critical domains is essential for effectively addressing future challenges and maintaining national security. He urged the commanders to integrate these emerging challenges into institutional thinking, planning processes, and operational execution, making them a core priority.
Rajnath Singh highlighted that the Defence Forces are presently undergoing a significant transformative phase, which includes wide-ranging reforms in organisational structures, jointness and integration among the services, and contemporary operational concepts. He noted that the dynamic security environment necessitates continuous adaptation and a forward-looking approach to military preparedness to effectively address the nation’s evolving security needs.
Commending the IAF for its adept implementation of doctrines and operational methods during and after ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Defence Minister acknowledged the professionalism, restraint, and sound judgment demonstrated by the air warriors in successfully executing their assigned tasks. He stated that the lessons learned during the operation have been significantly reflected in the IAF’s evolving operational procedures, particularly with the increased emphasis on drones and air defence systems, which are vital for national security. These crucial lessons, he added, are shaping the pace and direction of the ongoing transformative changes within the Defence Forces.
The Defence Minister also congratulated the Defence Forces for the coordinated and complementary contributions of all three Services, which were effectively demonstrated during ‘Op Sindoor’. He reiterated the importance of continuing jointness and integrated efforts to guide military planning and operational execution, emphasising synergy among the services.
While appreciating the IAF’s efforts in enhancing the skills and capabilities of its personnel in line with rapid technological advancements, Singh urged the commanders to sustain their focus on training air warriors in emerging technologies. He specifically underscored the importance of leveraging the technological knowledge and expertise of young recruits, suggesting their capabilities could significantly contribute to stronger decision-making and overall organisational development.
Addressing the ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers, Rajnath Singh stated that the decision was made following feedback received from the Defence Forces, reaffirming the government’s commitment to incorporating the services’ suggestions into policy decisions. He expressed confidence that this initiative would contribute to further strengthening the three armed services.
As a significant development during the conference, the Defence Minister launched a suite of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications developed in-house by the IAF’s AI Centre of Excellence, Unit for Digitisation, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Application Networking (UDAAN). These applications are designed to automate and expedite tasks across the domains of operations, administration, and aerospace safety, and have been deployed on the IAF’s secure network. This initiative marks a notable milestone in the IAF’s pursuit of technology-driven transformation and enhanced operational capabilities.
The inaugural session was attended by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, and Secretary (Defence Finance) Shri Vishvajit Sahay. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all Commands of IAF, along with all Principal Staff Officers and Director Generals, were also present. The two-day conference is being attended by senior leadership from across all IAF commands to discuss critical issues pertaining to operations, maintenance, and administration, under the theme ‘The Year of Empowerment: Maximising Efficiency Through Decentralisation’.
The Chenab Times News Desk
