India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, revealed on Monday (11 September) that the country has obtained indigenous drones capable of conducting strikes deep within enemy territory.

General Chauhan made this announcement during his speech at the North Tech Symposium in Jammu.

When asked if India would consider using drones to target terrorist camps across the border, similar to the United States, General Chauhan responded, “I wish you go around this particular exhibition more closely and you will find systems which can target with loitering ammunition having a range of 100-150 km.”

According to General Chauhan, the manufacturers of these drones have confirmed that they have been acquired for operational use, rather than just target practice, as reported by The Indian Express.

He further stated that some of the systems showcased at the exhibition will eventually become part of India’s inventory.

In regards to the threat of drones from Pakistan, General Chauhan mentioned that a significant number of anti-drone systems were deployed during the recent G20 summit in Delhi.

These systems, acquired from official sources such as air bases and borders, were installed by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy.

General Chauhan assured that the armed forces are well aware of the drone problem and have procured sufficient equipment to address immediate requirements.

“They have been successfully tested also,” he remarked, alluding to the G20 Summit’s success.

During a media interaction, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, the Northern Army Commander, stated that a significant amount of equipment has already been inducted as part of the counter-drone technology.

As the technology of drones continues to evolve, the need to enhance counter-drone systems becomes apparent. The latest technology brought by the attendees will greatly improve our capabilities, according to Lt General Upendra Dwivedi.

Since the last North Tech Symposium held in Udhampur in May 2022, the Northern Command has procured 256 pieces of equipment. The Army promptly identifies and directly inducts any equipment showcased at the exhibition, thus enhancing productivity.

The symposium showcased advanced military technologies developed by Indian defence firms, in a collaboration between the Northern Command, SIDM, and IIT Jammu.

An official statement mentioned that the interactive platform for knowledge diffusion, saw the active participation of approximately 180 Indian defence companies.

These included MSMEs, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Defence Public Sector Unit, and Simulator Development Division, aimed to support the government’s “Make-in-India” initiative. The platform fostered joint army-industry cooperation.

The exhibition served as a showcase for cutting-edge technologies and innovative products that address the complex challenges faced by the security forces in the Northern Command.

It also facilitated the exchange of ideas between the Indian defence industry and the Army.

The displayed technologies and products encompassed a wide range, including surveillance and situational awareness, tactical mobility, firepower, soldier/force protection, communications, combat medical facilities, robotics, simulators, and training aids.