India's Drone Capabilities Get a Boost: Unused Airfields to Become Backup Launch Bases

India's military is exploring a strategic plan to enhance its drone capabilities on the volatile borders with Pakistan and China. The plan involves utilizing unused or underutilized airfields in the north as backup operating bases for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This approach would provide increased protection against enemy attacks and ensure UAV units can continue to operate even if primary bases are damaged or out of service.

The idea is to supplement existing military air bases with new operating bases, particularly for long-range UAVs and one-way loitering attack systems that require conventional runways. India has already demonstrated its capability to establish a chain of forward and alternate airfields, as seen in the conversion of Mudh-Nyoma in Ladakh to a military airbase. This base was designed to support fighter operations in 2025 and is a significant addition to India's northern air infrastructure.

A distributed secondary airfield network could serve as a vital safety net for India's drone operations, allowing them to continue even in the face of an attack, electronic warfare, or other interference. This innovative approach has the potential to give India a significant edge in its drone capabilities. The idea takes on even more significance in the context of India's growing domestic drone industry.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized the requirement for India to build indigenous capabilities in the UAV chain, from engines and batteries to software and other key components. For the Indian Air Force (IAF) and other services, this could be a way of supporting a variety of platforms from long endurance surveillance UAVs to larger strike-oriented UAVs and runway-launched loitering systems.

The proposal is also part of a broader change in the nature of air warfare. Drones have proven their usefulness during recent wars in offering persistent surveillance, electronic warfare, decoy effects, and long-range strike without endangering the pilot. India has already witnessed a lot of UAV operations on both the Line of Duty (LoD) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

With its implementation, India will have another layer of operational redundancy with secondary northern airfields. Rather than fighter operating bases, the selected airfields can be distributed nodes for UAS operations, where long-range UASs can operate from various points, making it difficult for the enemy to neutralize India's UASs on the ground.

The use of unused airfields as backup launch bases for long-range drones is a strategic move that could give India a significant advantage in its drone capabilities. By providing increased protection against enemy attacks and ensuring UAV units can continue to operate even if primary bases are damaged or out of service, this approach has the potential to revolutionize India's drone operations.

India's Drone Capabilities Get a Boost

India's military is exploring a strategic plan to enhance its drone capabilities on the volatile borders with Pakistan and China. The plan involves utilizing unused or underutilized airfields in the north as backup operating bases for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

A Distributed Secondary Airfield Network

A distributed secondary airfield network could serve as a vital safety net for India's drone operations, allowing them to continue even in the face of an attack, electronic warfare, or other interference.

India's Growing Domestic Drone Industry

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized the requirement for India to build indigenous capabilities in the UAV chain, from engines and batteries to software and other key components.

The Future of Air Warfare

The proposal is also part of a broader change in the nature of air warfare. Drones have proven their usefulness during recent wars in offering persistent surveillance, electronic warfare, decoy effects, and long-range strike without endangering the pilot.

Key Takeaways

• India's military is exploring a strategic plan to enhance its drone capabilities on the volatile borders with Pakistan and China.
• The plan involves utilizing unused or underutilized airfields in the north as backup operating bases for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• A distributed secondary airfield network could serve as a vital safety net for India's drone operations.
• India's growing domestic drone industry is a key factor in the country's ability to build indigenous capabilities in the UAV chain.
• The proposal is part of a broader change in the nature of air warfare, with drones playing a key role in offering persistent surveillance, electronic warfare, decoy effects, and long-range strike without endangering the pilot.