As the Defence Ministry gets ready to sanction a ₹10,000 crore initiative to acquire cutting-edge I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is about to experience a major increase in its operational capability.
Later this month, high-level approval is anticipated for this endeavor, which coincides with increased military operations against Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
Three cutting-edge airplanes will be purchased for the I-STAR project from top international manufacturers like Boeing and Bombardier. The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of the Defence Research and Development Organization will design and test the totally indigenous sensor and electronic systems that will be installed on these airframes.
Day or night, and even in difficult terrain, the indigenous systems’ multi-spectral surveillance capabilities allow for the very accurate detection, localization, and tracking of adversary assets, including as command posts, mobile air defense units, and radar sites.
After going into service, the I-STAR aircraft will give the IAF a dynamic, real-time view of the battlefield, enabling precise strikes on important enemy targets from a distance without entering enemy airspace.
This competence is essential for modern warfare, as it is critical to maximize operational impact while reducing risk to men and assets. By supporting information collection, real-time observation, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISR), the aircraft will greatly improve India’s capacity to carry out surgical strikes and reduce the scope of wars.
By combining ground-based and aerial components, the I-STAR system provides thorough intelligence processing, exploitation, and distribution. This will give Indian forces a unified operating image and give them a clear advantage in strategic operations across unstable areas. Once the platforms are purchased, the technology will be quickly integrated and deployed because it has already been validated.
India’s strategic surveillance capabilities will undergo a significant transformation in a number of crucial aspects with the introduction of its own I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) aircraft.
First, even in difficult terrain and unfavorable circumstances, the Indian Air Force will be able to precisely detect, locate, and track enemy assets, such as radar stations, mobile air defense units, and command posts, thanks to the comprehensive, real-time air-to-ground intelligence that these high-altitude platforms will give it. India’s ability to eliminate threats without entering enemy airspace is greatly improved by this capability, which enables precise, stand-off strikes—a crucial necessity in contemporary combat.
Second, DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems developed the indigenous multi-spectral surveillance technology used in the I-STAR system, which guarantees intelligence gathering, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISR) in all weather conditions, 24/7. These tested domestic technologies will be quickly integrated into cutting-edge aircraft, enabling quick decision-making and offering a dynamic, real-time combat image.
Third, I-STAR will create a uniform operating picture for Indian forces by integrating ground-based and airborne components to facilitate intelligence processing, exploitation, and dissemination. This strengthens cross-border national security readiness by improving coordination, lowering the possibility of undetected threats, and facilitating prompt retaliation in conflict situations.
Finally, with the installation of I-STAR platforms, India will join a small number of countries with such sophisticated strategic air-to-ground surveillance and strike coordination capabilities, including the US, UK, and Israel. This strengthens India’s deterrent while also showcasing its increasing technological independence and strategic defense autonomy.
With the introduction of these systems, India will become one of the few countries with such sophisticated airborne combat intelligence and targeting capabilities, along with the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel. Officials stress that the I-STAR project will improve national security readiness, lessen the complexity of undetected threats across its borders, and strengthen India’s deterrent and quick reprisal capabilities.
