Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan today said India could not win modern wars with outdated weapons, underscoring the need to adopt future-ready technology, primarily through indigenous development.

Modern warfare has evolved, with weapons and combat equipment becoming smaller, faster, more efficient and cost-effective. The old, bulky rifles have been replaced by compact, lightweight weapons with extended range. This trend extends to tanks and aircraft, which are now faster and offer enhanced protection,” said General Chauhan. He was addressing a workshop on ‘Indigenisation of critical components’, hosted by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies.

In another significant development, the General offered new insights into how Pakistani drone attack was countered during Operation Sindoor on May 10. “The enemy deployed drones and loitering munitions, but couldn’t harm our military or civil infrastructure. Most of their weapons were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means, with some even recovered almost intact,” the CDS said.