India to Launch Major Drone Exercise to Enhance Air Defence Capabilities
New Delhi – India’s military is preparing to conduct its largest-ever drone and counter-drone exercise next month, a move aimed at strengthening national air defence and advancing its unmanned aerial technology. The exercise follows a tense confrontation with Pakistan earlier this year, during which unmanned aerial systems (UAS) played a significant role, highlighting the growing importance of drone warfare in regional security.
The four-day exercise, named “Cold Start”, is scheduled for early October and will bring together military personnel, defence industry experts, and researchers to test India’s drone capabilities and counter-UAS systems. Air Marshal Rakesh Sinha, Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, stated that the drills will help make India’s air defence infrastructure “completely robust” against aerial threats.
The exercise reflects a broader regional trend. Analysts describe South Asia as experiencing a drone arms race, with both India and Pakistan rapidly expanding their drone and counter-drone capabilities. India is also accelerating development of an indigenous air defence system, called “Sudarshan Chakra”, which officials compare to Israel’s famous Iron Dome.
According to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, the Sudarshan Chakra system will integrate drones, counter-drone technologies, aircraft, and counter-hypersonic measures to create a layered and sophisticated defence network. “Pakistan is also advancing its capabilities, so we must stay ahead,” Dixit noted.
The upcoming exercise is considered the largest domestic drone drill in India since the May conflict with Pakistan. It will simulate scenarios from past drone engagements and test India’s ability to detect, intercept, and neutralize unmanned aerial threats. Defence analysts say the exercise demonstrates India’s commitment to modernizing its military technology and maintaining a strategic edge in South Asia’s evolving security environment.
As drone warfare becomes increasingly central to modern military operations, the Cold Start exercise underscores India’s push to develop indigenous technology while enhancing cooperation between its armed forces and defence industry. International observers are closely watching the drills, noting their potential implications for regional stability and future drone defence strategies.
