Drones: The recent ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan brought momentary relief, but also signaled a pivotal shift in the landscape of modern warfare. During the brief period of hostilities, the skies above conflict zones were illuminated not by fighter jets or missiles, but by waves of drones, intercepted by India’s advanced defence systems. This moment has marked a new era in combat — where drones are at the frontline.
From Deliveries to Defence: The Rise of Combat Drones
Once limited to civilian uses like package deliveries and aerial photography, drones are now redefining the battlefield. For the first time, two nuclear-armed neighbours — India and Pakistan — engaged in widespread drone deployment during a conflict, highlighting the evolving complexity of regional security.
The Power of Autonomous Aerial Warfare
Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO & Co-founder of Marut Drones, explained how drones are changing warfare:
“Drones deliver real-time intelligence, enable precision strikes, and enhance situational awareness — all while minimising risk to personnel.”
More than just tools for surveillance or attack, drones are now being used tactically — acting as decoys, suppressing air defence systems, and triggering radar emissions targeted by loitering munitions or anti-radiation missiles.
Besta Prem Sai, CEO of Vecros, emphasized the push toward full autonomy.
“We’re building drones that think for themselves, take on high-risk tasks, and free human soldiers for strategic roles.”
Their flagship drone, ATHERA, is an autonomous system using spatial AI and eight cameras to independently navigate and complete missions — even in environments where GPS or communication signals are jammed.
India’s Advancing Defence Tech
India’s defence drone capabilities have significantly matured. Notably, systems like HAROP loitering munitions now allow drones to hover, assess targets, stream live data, and even abort attacks mid-air — flexibility that traditional precision weapons cannot offer.
Marut is also investing in swarm drones — coordinated drone groups designed to overwhelm enemy defences. Meanwhile, Vecros is leveraging SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) technology to guide drones in GPS-denied environments, fortified with anti-spoofing, anti-jamming, and real-time obstacle detection. Their proprietary OS, JETPIX, ensures drones can make safe, autonomous decisions while remaining under human oversight.
Future of War: AI, Autonomy & Data
Both founders agree that future conflicts will not be determined by troop numbers but by autonomous, AI-powered drone systems.
“Wars won’t be won by manpower anymore,” said Prem Kumar. “They’ll be shaped by drones acting as intelligent teammates.”
Prem Sai added, “We’re moving toward Level 5 autonomy — where drones can receive mission goals and execute them independently with ethical oversight.”
India’s Drone Industry on the Rise
Thanks to Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives and tighter regulations on foreign drone imports, India’s domestic drone ecosystem is booming. The industry is projected to reach a market size of ₹30,000 crore by 2030, driven by startups like Marut Drones and Vecros — both supported by government schemes and incubation programs.
“India isn’t just catching up,” said Prem Kumar. “We’re building globally competitive drone systems.”
Prem Sai concluded: “Our goal is to create drones that excel in the harshest conditions — giving India’s armed forces true autonomy and intelligent support in the field.”
