India, Aug. 5 -- Conflicts across the world have seen an increase in the use of drones, not just larger uncrewed systems akin to fighter aircraft, but hundreds of small, attritable systems deployed for a variety of purposes. For India, the aftermath of Operation Sindoor has translated directly into monetary commitment - emergency procurement of new systems, and a reported $2-billion commitment towards further drone purchases. These are steps that will help make India's fleet more competitive. But the money is being spent through procurement processes designed to acquire platforms with a much longer shelf life than a tactical drone, and that mismatch is the real problem.

What sets the procurement of small, tactical drones apart from the a...