The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will conduct a large-scale joint exercise in the first week of October to test drones and counter-drone systems, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The drill, codenamed ‘Cold Start’, is expected to take place in Madhya Pradesh and will be the biggest such exercise since Operation Sindoor. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of India’s air defence capabilities against modern aerial threats.
Testing Operational Readiness
Senior defence officials said the exercise will involve not only the armed forces but also industry partners, R&D agencies, and academic institutions, making it a multi-stakeholder event. The focus will be on identifying gaps in existing systems, improving counter-UAV measures, and testing advanced drone technologies in a realistic combat environment.
“This is about ensuring operational readiness against evolving aerial threats,” said one official, adding that lessons learned from the exercise will help shape future defence strategies.
‘We Must Stay Ahead of Adversaries’
At a conference on Counter UAVs & Air Defence Systems organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in Delhi, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, underscored the need for India to stay ahead of regional adversaries.
“They too are working to become like India, so we must always stay a step ahead. Our counter-drone and GPS jamming systems performed effectively during Operation Sindoor, ensuring no damage from adversary drones. But the adversary has also learned our capabilities. Next time, we have to be ahead and much better,” he said.
Air Marshal Dixit said the vision for the future includes an integrated air defence system, inspired by the Sudarshan Chakra concept, capable of countering drones, UAVs, hypersonic weapons, and asymmetric threats. He stressed the importance of dual-use systems, suitable for both wartime operations and civilian security against rogue drones.
Strategic Edge in Future Warfare
Rakesh Sinha, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), highlighted that the “race between drones and counter-drone technologies will shape the future of warfare.”
“Nations investing in counter-drone systems will gain a strategic edge. These technologies must evolve continuously to address not only current but also future drone capabilities,” Sinha said.
He added that the upcoming exercise will help refine AI-driven detection systems, ensure integration with existing air defence assets, and enhance precision in electromagnetically complex environments.
Way Forward
Defence analysts said ‘Cold Start’ will be a crucial step in strengthening India’s preparedness against drone warfare, which has emerged as a critical component of modern military conflicts worldwide.
