New Delhi, July 12 -- Recent wars have been about air power of a different kind: large numbers of missiles and drones have been used with precision to destroy targets over extremely long distances.

This has been enabled by a sophisticated technology stack that employs massive numbers of sensors with enormous computing power, bandwidth and artificial intelligence. It requires a manufacturing base that can produce flying objects of the most basic to the most advanced kind. Add a live- stream video camera to a lethal flying machine and you score big on the information front too.

Small wonder that armed forces and defence analysts around the world believe that air power of this kind is the future of warfare.

They are not wrong. But we shou...