New Delhi, 12 November 2026: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon the Defense Forces to strengthen and maintain both the offensive and defensive dimensions of the 'element of surprise' to maintain operational readiness against traditional and emerging threats arising from rapid technological advancements and the changing nature of modern warfare. Addressing the Air Force Commanders Conference in New Delhi on November 12, 2026, he stressed the need to continuously strengthen intelligence and surveillance capabilities, increase integration between systems and identify potential threats before they emerge.
“Our defense forces must develop capabilities and methods that deny the enemy any time to react or react, while ensuring that we are never caught unawares by the enemy. Surprises can manifest in various forms, both conventional and electronic. Our intelligence and surveillance systems must be strengthened and operational preparedness must be enhanced to ensure that our forces remain alert, agile and ready to respond effectively to any emerging challenge,” The Defense Minister had said so.
Rajnath Singh stressed that contemporary conflicts are expanding beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains, in which missiles, drones and advanced weapon systems are playing an important role. Referring to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, he said that drones and air defense systems have emerged as important components of modern warfare. He requested the commanders to be prepared for emerging challenges like kamikaze drones, surveillance and counter-drone operations.
The Defense Minister had called upon the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop dedicated doctrines and structures for emerging areas of warfare including electronic, cyber and space. He stressed that increased preparedness in these areas will strengthen the ability to face future challenges. “Victory in future conflicts will depend not only on the number of aircraft, but also on technological sophistication, speed of response and precision of preparations,” he said, and urged commanders to make these emerging challenges a key priority, with a focus on integrating them into organizational thinking, planning and operational processes.
Rajnath Singh highlighted that the defense forces are going through a transformational phase, involving reforms in a wide range of areas including organizational structures, cohesion and integration, and operational concepts. He added that the changing security environment necessitates continuous adaptation and a forward-looking approach to military preparedness.
The Defense Minister praised the IAF for effectively implementing its principles and operational methods during and after Operation Sindoor and appreciated the professionalism, composure and wisdom displayed by the air warriors in successfully carrying out the tasks assigned to them. He said the lessons learned during the operation are clearly reflected in the evolving operational processes of the IAF, particularly through the increased emphasis on drones and air defense systems, which are critical to national security. He added that these lessons are setting the pace and direction of the ongoing transformational changes in the defense forces.
Highlighting the coordinated and complementary contribution effectively shown by the three services during Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh congratulated the defense forces for their coordination and integration. He underlined that jointness and coordinated efforts must continue to guide military planning and operational implementation. Complimenting the IAF for enhancing the skills and capabilities of its personnel to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements, the Defense Minister urged the commanders to continue efforts to train the air warriors in emerging technologies. He stressed the importance of leveraging the technological knowledge and skills of young recruits, noting that their capabilities can significantly contribute to stronger decision-making and organizational development.
Regarding the second tour of duty for Agniveers, Rajnath Singh said that the decision was taken after feedback received from the defense forces, and reiterated the government's commitment to incorporating the services' suggestions into policy decisions. He expressed confidence that the 'Second Tour of Duty' initiative will contribute to strengthening the three services.
As part of the conference, the Defense Minister launched a suite of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications developed in-house by the AI Center of Excellence of the IAF's Unit for Digitization, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Application Networking (UDAAN). These applications will be used to automate and accelerate tasks in the areas of operations, administration and aerospace maintenance, and are deployed on the IAF's secure network. This initiative marks an important milestone towards the IAF's technology-led transformation and enhanced operational capabilities.
Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth, Chief of Air Force Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Conservation Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Secretary (Conservation Finance) Vishwajeet Sahay were also present in the inaugural session. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all commands of the IAF, all Principal Staff Officers and all Director Generals. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, all Principal Staff Officers and all Director Generals of all IAF commands are participating in this two-day conference.
The theme of this year's conference is 'Year of Empowerment: Maximizing Efficiency through Decentralization'. The conference provides a forum for senior IAF leadership to discuss critical issues of operations, maintenance and administration.