India’s military will conduct its biggest ever drone and counter drone exercise, named Cold Start, in the first week of October 2025. The exercise is aimed at strengthening the country’s air defence and counter UAS (unmanned aerial systems) capabilities, especially after recent tensions with Pakistan and increased use of drones in regional conflicts.
What the Exercise Will Include
- The exercise will test both India’s existing drone systems and counter-drone technologies under realistic simulated threats.
- It will be conducted under the supervision of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).
- Defence industry experts, researchers, and R&D organizations are expected to observe the drills.
Strategic Context & Features
- India’s military is pushing to build robust systems to detect, track, and neutralize unmanned threats. The “Cold Start” exercise is part of the push to fast track preparedness in drone warfare.
- In parallel, the Indian government is working on a programme called Sudarshan Chakra an indigenous air defence system projected for completion by 2035. It is meant to combine counter-UAS, aircraft, radar, and hypersonic countermeasures.
- Officials have said this exercise will simulate scenarios similar to recent drone incidents, ensuring that the forces are ready for a range of drone threats.
Why This Is Important
- The move reflects growing urgency amid the regional arms race in unmanned systems, especially after conflicts where drones played a key role.
- Strengthening counter drone defenses is seen as essential both for protecting populated areas and strategic installations.
- It also signals India’s push to boost domestic capability in defence R&D less dependency on foreign technology.
What to Watch For
- Where exactly the exercise will be held (some reports suggest Madhya Pradesh).
- The types of drones and counter-measures that will be deployed whether they are all indigenous or some imported.
- Observers from defence industry and academia what feedback they provide on readiness and gaps.
- Follow-up on how the Sudarshan Chakra system develops, especially its timelines and capabilities.
