New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- Surprise, technological superiority, and jointness will be critical to boosting the operational readiness of the armed forces to meet future security challenges, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. Identifying potential threats before they unfold is equally important, he said. Charting the way forward for military preparedness at the Air Force Commanders' Conference, he said, "Our defence forces must develop capabilities and methods that leave the adversary with no time to react or recover, while simultaneously ensuring that we are never caught off guard. Surprise can manifest in various forms, both conventional and electronic. Our intelligence and surveillance mechanisms must be further strengthened to respond effectively to any emerging challenge." IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh were present. Singh said the revamped Agnipath scheme will further strengthen the three services. He said contemporary conflicts are extending beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains, with missiles, drones and advanced weapon systems playing a significant role. Referring to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, he said that drones and air defence systems have emerged as critical components of modern warfare. He asked commanders to remain prepared for emerging challenges such as kamikaze drones, and counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) operations. "Victory in future conflicts will depend not merely on the number of aircraft, but also on technological sophistication, speed of response and precision in planning."htc...