'Air Dominance Not Possible Without...': Defence Expert On India's Stealth Jet Search, Op Sindoor

India’s pursuit of next-generation fighter jets and stealth aircraft underscores the critical role of air power in contemporary warfare. Defence Expert Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.) highlights that air dominance has become existential, citing lessons from Op Sindoor and Ukraine. He notes that stealth aircraft combined with wraparound technologies—electronic warfare, space, cyber—are essential for controlling the skies. In situations where piloted aircraft face limits, drones, AI-enabled systems, 3D printing, and advanced command networks create lethal frontiers that can alter battle outcomes. Shukla emphasizes India must invest in unmanned systems, enhanced air defence, and integrated combined arms operations using AI and robotics. While piloted platforms remain necessary, the future of air power is multifaceted. Accelerating military transformation through IBGs, technological upgrades, and lethal capabilities is now imperative to meet evolving threats.