New Delhi, July 30 -- The relentless hum of tomorrow's battlefield is already being written in India's design labs and startup hubs, but according to the nation's top air commander, the path to true self-reliance demands an urgent shift in gear.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Bharat Drone & Robotics Manthan 3.0 conference, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh laid out a bold roadmap for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to partner closely with domestic industry and innovators.

With modern warfare increasingly shaped by cost-effective unmanned systems, the Air Chief emphasised that India's defence sector must outpace the rapid lifecycle of emerging technologies, where hesitation carries a high operational cost.

Air Chief Marshal Singh s...