Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges Sharper Surveillance and Surprise at Air Force Commanders’ Conference

Addressing the Air Force Commanders' Conference on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the military to reinforce both the offensive and defensive dimensions of the "element of surprise." He stressed that a rapidly changing security environment requires continuous adaptation, forward-looking military readiness, and capabilities that leave adversaries no time to react while preventing unexpected moves against friendly forces.

Modern Warfare and Emerging Domains

Pointing to conflicts such as those in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, Singh noted that drones and air defence systems have become critical to contemporary combat. He called on the Indian Air Force to prepare for challenges including kamikaze drones, counter-drone operations, and electronic, cyber, and space domains. Victory in future conflicts, he stated, will depend on technological sophistication, speed of response, and precision rather than aircraft quantity alone.

Operation Sindoor and Force Integration

The Defence Minister commended the Air Force for its professionalism, restraint, and judgment during and after Operation Sindoor. He highlighted the complementary contributions of all three services, noting that lessons learned from the operation are actively shaping evolving operational procedures, particularly regarding drones and air defence systems, and driving ongoing structural reforms and jointness.

Artificial Intelligence Launch

During the conference, Singh launched a suite of artificial intelligence applications created in-house by the IAF's AI Centre of Excellence. Deployed on a secure network, these tools aim to automate and expedite tasks across operations, administration, and aerospace safety. Additionally, he discussed the two-year extension granted to Agniveers, stating the decision followed feedback from the defence forces to bolster the military.