India, June 5 -- Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said drones have become a defining force in modern conflict, and outlined India's plans for a tiered, networked drone capability fused with artillery, air defence, electronic warfare and intelligence systems.

In an interview to HT, he also said the army's restructuring is designed to deliver more decisive battlefield outcomes; agreements with China on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control have led to both sides showing greater responsiveness and sensitivity to each other's concerns; and Operation Sindoor demonstrated that India's future responses will not be constrained by Pakistan's nuclear blackmail. Edited excerpts:

Recent conflicts have shown drones are no longer niche pla...