The sky is no longer the uncontested domain of a handful of superpowers or the exclusive preserve of manned fighter jets. In the last decade, the world has witnessed a seismic shift in the art and science of air warfare. From the drone-dominated battlefields of Ukraine to the precision-strike campaigns in Gaza, the labyrinthine airspace of Syria and Lebanon, and the high-stakes, high-tech May 2025 India-Pakistan clashes, the rules of the game have changed. Today, victory in the air is determined not just by the speed or stealth of a single aircraft, but by the orchestration of a vast, interconnected arsenal fighters, drones, missiles, electronic warfare systems, and real-time data networks. As The Economist put it in its May 2025 post-conflict analysis, "The future of air power belongs to those who can integrate, innovate, and decide at the speed of data."
The Arsenal of Modern Air Warfare: A Symphony of Systems
The May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict was a watershed moment, not just for South Asia but for the global military community. Both nations fielded a formidable and diverse array of air warfare assets, each playing a critical role in the unfolding scenario.
India's air campaign showcased the operational flexibility and lethality of its modernized fleet. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Dassault Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000 fighters, each equipped with a suite of advanced munitions. Rafales and Su-30MKIs fired Meteor and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, while the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile launched from Su-30MKIs delivered pinpoint strikes on high-value Pakistani military targets. The IAF's MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s provided both air superiority and ground-attack capabilities, ensuring a multi-layered offensive.
Crucially, India's integration of unmanned systems marked a paradigm shift. Over 80 Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions were deployed for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), hunting down Pakistani radars and missile batteries. Heron TP drones provided persistent surveillance and targeting data, feeding into the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). The Akash and Akash-NG surface-to-air missile systems, coordinated by the Akashteer command and control network, formed the backbone of India's multi-layered air defense, supported by legacy L-70 and Zu-23 anti-aircraft guns. As the Indian Ministry of Defence noted in its after-action report, "Akashteer's real-time data fusion and rapid response capability were instrumental in neutralizing multiple inbound threats."
Pakistan responded with a sophisticated mix of F-16s, JF-17 Thunders, and J-10C fighters, armed with PL-15 and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. Its air defense relied on Chinese HQ-9 and LY-80 systems, and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones for both strike and reconnaissance missions. The deployment of Fatah-II ballistic missiles and Babur cruise missiles against Indian airbases which were neutralised mid air demonstrated Pakistan's growing stand-off strike capability. According to Tom Cooper, an acknowledged air warfare historian, Pakistan lost at least two J-10C, one Mirage, one Mirage 5, one JF-17C, and a C-130 Hercules, with another F-16 severely damaged losses confirmed by satellite imagery and open-source intelligence.
Electronic Warfare: The Invisible Battlefield
The 2025 conflict was as much a contest in the electromagnetic spectrum as in the physical skies. Indian Rafales and Su-30MKIs employed advanced jamming pods to degrade Pakistani radar and communications, while Akashteer's integration of radar, missile, and gun systems enabled seamless tracking and engagement of fast-moving threats. Pakistan's J-10Cs and JF-17s countered with electronic countermeasures, attempting to disrupt Indian missile guidance and drone operations. The Economist, citing defense officials, observed, "For the first time in South Asia, the outcome of air battles hinged as much on electronic warfare as on kinetic firepower."
Drone Warfare: The Vanguard of Change
Perhaps the most striking feature of the 2025 clashes was the scale and sophistication of drone operations. India's Harop loitering munitions, designed to autonomously seek and destroy enemy radars, played a central role in the opening salvos. Heron TP drones provided real-time ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), while smaller quadcopters were used for battlefield damage assessment. Pakistan's Bayraktar TB2s and indigenous Burraq drones conducted surveillance and limited strike missions. According to The New York Times, satellite imagery and field reports confirmed the destruction of dozens of drones on both sides, with at least 34 Harop drones intercepted by Pakistani air defenses. As Reuters reported, "The skies over Punjab and Sindh became a laboratory for drone warfare, with both militaries racing to adapt counter-drone tactics in real time."
Missile Strikes and Air Defense: Precision Meets Protection
Precision-guided missiles dominated the tempo of the conflict. India's BrahMos missiles, launched from Su-30MKIs, struck at least 8 Pakistani airfields, inflicting significant runway and infrastructure damage findings corroborated by The Washington Post's satellite analysis. Pakistan's Fatah-II and Babur missiles targeted Indian airbases in Punjab and Jammu, but they were intercepted by Akash and Akash-NG systems. The interception of a Fatah-II missile near Sirsa Air Force Station was confirmed by both Indian sources and independent analysts. The Akashteer system, by integrating sensor data and automating threat responses, enabled India to achieve a high interception rate, minimizing damage and maintaining operational tempo.
Aerial Combat: The Enduring Value of Piloted Aircraft
While drones and missiles grabbed headlines, manned fighters remained at the heart of air superiority battles. Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian jets including Rafale, MiG-29, and Su-30MKI using J-10Cs and PL-15 missiles, while India reported intercepting and destroying Pakistani Mirage and JF-17 aircraft. France 24 noted, "India's ambiguous response to jet losses reflects the high political and symbolic stakes of modern air combat." Tom Cooper's detailed analysis, backed by visual evidence, confirmed the loss of at least three Pakistani combat aircraft and one transport. Indian airbases at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj sustained minor damage, while Pakistan's Nur Khan, Bholari, Rafiqi, and Murid airbases among others targeted were hit by Indian missiles, causing visible destruction.
Global Lessons: Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon
The lessons of South Asia are echoed and amplified by recent conflicts elsewhere. In Ukraine, the war has been defined by the widespread use of drones like the Bayraktar TB2, Orlan-10, and Switchblade 300, as well as relentless electronic warfare and GPS jamming. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have adapted rapidly, deploying new drone models and integrating commercial technologies. As The Guardian reported, "Ukraine is the world's first drone war, where the side that adapts fastest to new threats gains the upper hand."
In Gaza and Lebanon, Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling air defense systems have intercepted thousands of rockets and drones, while Israeli F-35I Adir and F-16I Sufa jets have executed precision strikes. The use of loitering munitions like the Harop and rapid sensor-to-shooter cycles has enabled Israel to respond quickly to emerging threats. Yet, as Foreign Policy observed, "The battle for air superiority is now a contest of adaptation, not just technology," with adversaries using swarming tactics and low-cost drones to challenge even the most advanced defenses.
Syria's airspace is a proving ground for stealth aircraft (such as the US F-22 and Russian Su-57), stand-off weapons, and electronic warfare. The complex interplay of state and non-state actors, dense air defense networks, and coalition operations underscores the need for decentralized command and coalition interoperability.
Expert Perspectives and Media Analysis
Global experts have underscored the significance of these trends. Michael Kugelman, South Asia specialist at the Wilson Center, told Reuters, "The May 2025 crisis showed that escalation can now happen at the speed of data. Both sides demonstrated not just firepower, but the ability to integrate and adapt in real time." The New York Times concluded, "Despite the scale of the strikes, the damage was far more contained than propaganda on either side suggested a testament to the effectiveness of modern air defense and the limits of precision warfare." Michael Clarke, former Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute, told Al Jazeera, "If India lost a Rafale, that would certainly be embarrassing. But the real story is how both sides used drones and missiles in ways we've never seen before in South Asia." Justin Bronk, air power specialist at RUSI, emphasized to The Washington Post, "The future of air warfare is about integration and adaptation. Those who master the network connecting sensors, shooters, and decision-makers will dominate the skies."
The New Playbook: Integration, Information, and Innovation
Several key themes define the new era:
Integration of Manned and Unmanned Systems: Drones like the Harop, Heron TP, Bayraktar TB2, and Burraq are now central to surveillance, strike, and electronic warfare missions.
Data-Centric Warfare: Systems like India's IACCS and Akashteer enable real-time fusion of sensor data, supporting rapid, informed decisions and automating threat responses.
Electronic and Cyber Warfare: The ability to jam, spoof, and disrupt enemy systems is now as decisive as kinetic effects, with both sides fielding advanced electronic warfare suites.
Precision and Stand-Off Weapons: Missiles like BrahMos, Fatah-II, and Babur allow deep strikes with reduced risk to pilots, shifting the focus from air superiority to integrated strike capabilities.
Layered Air Defense: Akash, Akash-NG, HQ-9, Iron Dome, and David's Sling highlight the importance of multi-tiered protection against drones and missiles, with real-world interception data supporting their effectiveness.
Legacy Platforms in a Modern Network: Older systems, when integrated into a digital command network, remain relevant and effective, as seen with India's L-70 guns and Pakistan's Mirage fighters.
Way Ahead: Adapting to the Future Battlespace
Looking forward, the future of air warfare will be shaped by relentless innovation, integration, and agility. Air forces must invest in AI-enabled platforms, autonomous drones, resilient data networks, and advanced countermeasures against both kinetic and electronic threats. Training and doctrine must evolve to emphasize multi-domain operations, rapid adaptation, and decentralized command. As The Economist noted, "Victory will belong to those who can see, decide, and act at the speed of modern conflict." The ability to orchestrate a symphony of manned and unmanned assets, integrate real-time data, and adapt to new threats will define success in the skies.
The era of air warfare as a contest of numbers and brute force is over. The May 2025 India-Pakistan clashes, alongside the lessons of Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, reveal a new battlespace one where drones, missiles, fighters, data, and electronic warfare converge. The world's air forces must learn to integrate technology, innovate faster than adversaries, and harness the power of information. As air power expert Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute told The Washington Post, "The future of air warfare is about integration and adaptation. Those who master the network connecting sensors, shooters, and decision-makers will dominate the skies."
The lessons are clear: success will belong to those who can orchestrate diverse assets, outpace the enemy's decision loop, and adapt in real time to the relentless pace of change. The future of air warfare is not just about the machines in the sky, but the minds and networks that control them.
[Major General Dr Dilawar Singh is an Indian Army veteran who has led the Indian Army's Financial Management, training and research divisions introducing numerous initiatives therein. He is the Senior Vice President of the Global Economist Forum AO ECOSOC, United Nations and The Co President of the Global Development Bank.]
