Drones and Loitering Munitions Are Strategic Game Changers in Modern Warfare: Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth

Pune, 1st March 2025: Low-cost drones and loitering munitions have emerged as critical force multipliers in modern conflicts, as evident in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, said Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth on Friday. He was addressing a seminar on “Air Defence Operations — Contemporary Conflicts, Lessons Learnt, and Capability Development of Army Air Defence”, organized by Southern Command in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), a think tank based in Delhi.

Lt Gen Seth emphasized that the lessons from the Ukraine conflict extend beyond traditional air defence strategies. He noted that both Russia and Ukraine have effectively leveraged drones and unmanned aerial weapons to gain an edge on the battlefield. “The war has demonstrated how inexpensive drones and loitering munitions have become crucial assets. Russia utilized Iranian Shahed drones to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, while Ukraine successfully deployed Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones to destroy Russian armoured columns,” he said.

Highlighting the cost-effectiveness of drone warfare, Lt Gen Seth pointed out the stark disparity between attack costs and damage inflicted. “A single $500 drone can destroy a $10 million tank—an astounding cost ratio of 20,000:1. This reinforces the urgent need for robust counter-drone systems, including electronic warfare tools, kinetic interceptors, and directed-energy weapons, to neutralize threats before they reach critical assets,” he added.

The Russia-Ukraine war has become a case study in modern air defence warfare, Lt Gen Seth observed. Initially, many expected Russia’s air power to ensure a swift victory, but Ukraine’s layered and adaptive air defence system, bolstered by NATO intelligence and advanced Western missile systems, managed to resist Russian air superiority.

“Ukraine’s military effectively utilized MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) alongside Western-provided missile systems to restrict Russian air dominance. This forced Russia to rely on long-range missile strikes rather than achieving sustained air control,” he explained.

Discussing the future of aerial warfare, Lt Gen Seth stated that the nature of air combat is evolving. “We have transitioned from conventional airstrikes by manned aircraft to an era dominated by unmanned systems, precision-guided munitions, loitering drones, and hypersonic missiles. The wars of the future will be defined not just by air superiority but also by air denial, ensuring adversaries cannot freely exploit the skies,” he noted.

He stressed the importance of joint military efforts in air defence, saying, “Future warfare will require a seamlessly integrated air defence framework where the Army, Air Force, and Navy operate in real-time coordination.”

The Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) is already playing a key role in this transition, with integration efforts alongside Akashteer, he added.

The seminar was attended by Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence (AAD), along with senior military officials, industry representatives, and veterans from the armed forces.