Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, 12 November 2026, called upon India's defence forces to strengthen both offensive and defensive dimensions of the 'element of surprise', stressing that operational readiness against conventional and emerging threats is non-negotiable in the era of modern warfare.

Addressing the Air Force Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, Singh underscored the importance of continuous intelligence upgrades, tighter integration across systems, and early threat identification — before adversaries can act.

What Rajnath Singh 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 by an unexpected move from the enemy. Surprise can manifest in various forms, both conventional and electronic,' Singh said, according to an official statement.

He called for further bolstering of intelligence and surveillance mechanisms and an enhancement of operational preparedness to keep personnel 'alert, agile and equipped to respond effectively to any emerging challenge.'

Lessons from Global Conflicts

The Defence Minister pointed to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts as evidence that the character of warfare has fundamentally changed. He noted that drones and air defence systems have emerged as critical components, with missiles and advanced weapon platforms reshaping battlefield dynamics.

Singh exhorted commanders to stay prepared for threats such as kamikaze drones, surveillance missions, and counter-drone operations — capabilities that have proven decisive in both conflicts he referenced.

Future Domains: Cyber, Electronic, Space

Rajnath Singh called upon the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop dedicated doctrines and architectures for emerging warfare domains, specifically electronic warfare, cyber operations, and space. He argued that enhanced preparedness in these non-contact domains would be central to addressing future challenges.

'Victory in future conflicts would depend not merely on the number of aircraft, but also on technological sophistication, speed of response and precision of preparations,' he said, urging commanders to make these priorities core to institutional thinking, planning, and operational processes.

Significance for the IAF

Contemporary conflicts, Singh asserted, are extending well beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains. This framing places the IAF's modernisation agenda — encompassing platforms, networks, and doctrinal reform — at the centre of India's broader strategic posture. The conference is a key periodic forum where senior IAF commanders align on operational priorities with political leadership.

With India navigating a complex security environment on its northern and western fronts, the emphasis on speed, precision, and domain-agnostic preparedness signals that force structure reforms and technology absorption will remain top agenda items for the IAF in the coming years.