Archive · 2 Sep 2026
India’s Post-Sindoor Defence Push Targets Networked Future Warfare
India is changing how it prepares for future wars after its confrontation with Pakistan.
It is buying more missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones and naval systems.
The Army is putting drone units closer to frontline soldiers.
New formations are also being created for specialised combat roles.
A system called TARA may help existing weapons fly farther and hit targets more accurately.
India is also developing very fast hypersonic missiles.
Its air-defence system combines missiles and a powerful laser to attack several targets at once.
This suggests India expects future attacks to involve drones, cruise missiles and other weapons arriving together.
The overall plan is to build a connected set of conventional, autonomous and high-speed capabilities.
India cleared defence acquisition proposals worth about ₹1.05 lakh crore less than two months after Operation Sindoor.
A further ₹67,000 crore in proposals covered remotely piloted aircraft, BrahMos systems and SPYDER air-defence upgrades.
The Army is deploying Ashni drone platoons and restructuring units including Rudra Brigades and Bhairav Battalions.
DRDO and the Indian Air Force tested TARA, a range-extension kit for precision-guided glide weapons, on May 7, 2026.
India is combining hypersonic missiles, layered air defence, lasers, autonomous systems and naval platforms rather than relying on one weapon.
- Who
- The Government of India, the Indian military, DRDO and the Indian Air Force are leading the modernisation effort.
- What
- India is accelerating defence procurement, military restructuring and development of drones, missiles, air-defence systems, lasers and naval platforms.
- When
- The push followed the May 2025 Operation Sindoor confrontation; major proposals were cleared afterward, with additional developments through May 2026.
- Where
- The programmes concern India’s armed forces and capabilities ranging from frontline battlefields to naval and strategic systems.
- Why
- The effort is intended to prepare for future warfare involving drones, cruise missiles, precision weapons and saturation attacks.
- Post-Sindoor proposals
- The Defence Acquisition Council cleared proposals worth approximately ₹1.05 lakh crore less than two months after Operation Sindoor.
- Additional proposals
- Another ₹67,000 crore in proposals followed in August, including remotely piloted aircraft and air-defence upgrades.
- Tactical drones
- Ashni platoons were established across hundreds of infantry battalions for surveillance and offensive drone operations.
- TARA trial
- DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted the maiden flight trial of Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation on May 7, 2026.
- Hypersonic programme
- A missile flight-tested in November 2024 demonstrated a range exceeding 1,500 kilometres at hypersonic speeds.
- Integrated air defence
- The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System combines QRSAM, VSHORADS and a high-power laser; an August 2025 test engaged three targets simultaneously.