Tech Desk: India is strategically converting underutilised northern airfields into crucial backup operational bases for its long-range UAV ops. This pivotal move aims to establish a distributed network, ensuring continuous surveillance and strike capabilities along the volatile borders with Pakistan and China, even if primary airbases face threats. Modern long-range drones, including High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) systems and heavy loitering munitions, require conventional runways and substantial ground support infrastructure.

By decentralising these assets across secondary airfields, the Indian Air Force (IAF) builds critical operational redundancy, making its unmanned fleet significantly harder for adversaries to target on the ground. This initiative aligns with India’s broader push to enhance forward military infrastructure, echoing developments like the Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Station and the dedicated military drone base in Meerut. Existing airbases such as Gorakhpur and Sarsawa are also being eyed for deploying long-range UAV ops.

As unmanned systems become indispensable for persistent surveillance, electronic warfare, and long-range strikes, protecting these assets is paramount. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has consistently stressed the need for a self-reliant domestic defence industry to produce critical UAV components locally. This infrastructure expansion guarantees India’s growing drone fleet remains secure, resilient, and ready for deployment under any circumstances, underpinning national security.