Overview
- At the Air Force Commanders’ Conference on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ordered a sharper focus on the "element of surprise" by strengthening intelligence, surveillance and faster operational response.
- Singh launched UDAAN, a suite of in-house artificial intelligence applications developed by the IAF’s AI Centre of Excellence, which will run on the IAF’s secure network to speed operations, administration and aerospace safety.
- The defence minister directed the IAF to write dedicated doctrines and architectures for electronic, cyber and space warfare and told commanders to prioritise counter-unmanned aerial systems and layered air-defence against threats such as kamikaze drones.
- The government has revised the Agnipath scheme to offer a two-year second tour for Agniveers, guarantee full-term service for current recruits and create a clearer pathway to regular enlistment with pension and benefits, addressing retention and career concerns.
- Officials said the changes build on lessons from Operation Sindoor and recent international conflicts and are meant to drive joint training, faster procurement of sensing and counter-drone systems, and closer service integration to make the force quicker and more precise.