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AI and the Future of Air Combat in India

In his autobiography Hawkeye, Israeli fighter ace Giora Even-Epstein recalls flying the Fighting Falcon F-16, and comments that “Flying an F-16 was different than any other plane I’d ever flown. It felt like it was the computer more than the pilot that was flying the plane.”

Maintenance Ecosystem of Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) in Military Aviation

India’s commercial drone industry is growing and the drone market is expected to become a multi-billion-dollar industry over the next decade. In this drone era, the smaller drone systems, that is, small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) are also gaining traction in Indian armed forces for use in Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and as armed sUAS for kamikaze role.

IADD Reinvigorates India’s Defence Cooperation with African Countries

The second India–Africa Defence Dialogue at DefExpo 2022 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat has opened multiple pathways for defence cooperation between India and Africa.

Ruchita Beri
October 18, 2022
IDSA Comments

Threat of Radicalisation in Syria’s ISIS Prisons

Concerns of radicalisation in SDF-run facilities in Syria remain high, given that reports flag corruption, crime, and deplorable security conditions at these camps.

Understanding the PLA’s Command and Leadership System

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has established a leadership and command system to enhance its capability to conduct joint operations.

M.S. Prathibha
October 17, 2022
Issue Brief

Raksha Mantri’s Visit to Egypt: Significance for India–Africa Defence Cooperation

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt will concretise India–Africa defence cooperation through training, capacity-building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Ruchita Beri
October 17, 2022
IDSA Comments

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles: Some Ethical Considerations for the Defence Applications of AI

Combat drones or Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UCAVs) refer to automated aerial vehicles, equipped with the capacity to carry and deploy lethal weapons such as missiles or bombs. They are characterised by their maximum take-off weight (less than 150 kgs, 150–600 kgs, and more than 600 kgs) or flight features (High Altitude Long Endurance, and Medium Altitude Long Endurance). Enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the use of these drones has become increasingly popular in combat and counter-terrorist missions.

Military Drones in India: New Frontier of Warfare

A new phase of drone warfare has come, involving several actors and the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has progressed beyond
counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to full-scale conventional battles. Moreover, as technology advances and is linked to artificial intelligence, a new third era of drone warfare is on the horizon. It is therefore pertinent to analyse the global proliferation of military drones, the indigenisation of military drones in India and to examine where India stands in the context of military drones.

Global Developments in Sea-based Unmanned Crafts

Sea-based unmanned crafts are increasingly being used by navies across the globe because of their utility and multi-mission capabilities. The future of naval warfare will be driven by unmanned systems thereby reducing the risk to human lives. This article explores the sea-based unmanned crafts that includes a survey of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) for military use. It includes a description of sea-based unmanned crafts, the present doctrines and standards, technology advancements and applications.

Biological and Chemical Threats and UAV Delivery Systems: A Lethal Combination

The Chemical or Biological Weapons (CBW) of mass destruction and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology both have dual-use potential, and can be manufactured cost-effectively, covertly utilising the same set of equipment, manufacturing unit and manpower, which makes it a deadly combination. The proliferation of CBW technology has always been a global threat. The threat of CBW-weaponised drones from non-state actors has been escalating with increasing covert support to terrorism by state actors.