Indian Air Force to get separate drone force? IAF chief AP Singh reveals what the force plans

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has ruled out setting up a separate drone force, saying unmanned aerial systems and loitering munitions should instead be integrated with the IAF’s existing weapons and operational structure.

Speaking at the IAF’s annual press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Singh described drones as an “evolutionary” development for the force rather than a “revolutionary” one. He said the IAF had been using drone capabilities for decades and was now expanding their numbers, variety and operational capabilities.

“Drones are not revolutionary to the Indian Air Force, but evolutionary. We are growing the number of drones and loitering munitions. Whether we need a separate drone force, I don't think so. They should be a part of the same setup, and we have to be operating together,” Singh said.


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IAF plans to expand drone and loitering munition capabilities

Singh said the IAF was increasing its inventory of unmanned systems and loitering munitions while also broadening the types of platforms available to the force.

He stressed that these systems should not be treated as stand-alone capabilities and instead need to operate alongside conventional weapons and other military platforms.

“These have to be together along with other weapons so that they bring in that effect. We cannot be operating one type of weapon separately somewhere and another type of weapon separately. So we have not thought of having a separate drone force,” he said.

According to Singh, the IAF already has specialised units responsible for operating such systems. Their numbers could be expanded depending on operational requirements.

IAF chief stresses integrated battlefield operations

The IAF chief said modern combat requires different weapon systems to work in coordination rather than being employed independently.

His comments underline the force’s preference for combining drones and loitering munitions with other weapons and platforms as part of a broader operational approach.

Singh said the effectiveness of a weapon system depends not only on the capability of the platform itself but also on how it is employed alongside other assets to achieve the intended battlefield outcome.

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Loitering munitions used against air-defence assets

Singh also referred to the battlefield utility of loitering munitions, saying they had contributed to operations against air-defence assets.

“Loiter ammunition did help us in creating chaos and also taking down some of the AD assets,” he said.

At the same time, he reiterated that drones and loitering munitions were not new additions to the IAF’s capabilities, describing their development as a gradual expansion of systems that had been present in the force for decades.

“So, if I can say drones are not revolutionary for the Indian Air Force; yes, they are evolutionary. So, we are growing in drones, number of drones, number of loiter ammunitions, and type of drones and type of loiter ammunition is increasing,” Singh said.

No separate drone arm planned

The remarks make clear that the IAF does not currently plan to establish an independent drone arm. Instead, the force intends to increase the number and types of unmanned systems while keeping them within its existing command and operational framework.

The approach comes as drones and loitering munitions are becoming increasingly common in military operations. Singh said the IAF’s focus would be on integrating these systems with other weapons rather than developing them as a separate branch operating independently.