Barmer/Jaisalmer, March 11 -- As drone warfare has emerged as a defining and critical element of contemporary conflicts- the Air Defence Brigade of the Indian Army's Southern Command has successfully conducted a high-intensity field firing exercise at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges. The drill validated the brigade's advanced precision engagement capabilities against a spectrum of modern aerial threats, including autonomous drones and swarm formations, mirroring the real-world challenges seen in the Middle East escalation that began in late February 2026. Held in Rajasthan's arid deserts, the exercise focused onflawless operational readiness, seamless battle drills, and accelerated absorption of cutting-edge technologies - essential for countering the evolving nature of warfare dominated by affordable, mass-producible unmanned systems. Officials highlighted that the training reinforced the Army Air Defence's role as a dominant force in the aerial battlespace, ensuring India's skies remain secure against emerging unmanned threats Using modern radar systems and anti-aircraft guns, drone targets attempting to infiltrate the airspace were successfully tracked and shot down, testing the capability to counter aerial threats. In this exercise, the army demonstrated that any aerial threat can be identified and neutralised within a matter of seconds. During the exercise, drones representing a hypothetical enemy were shown attempting to enter Indian airspace. Air defence units immediately became active, first jamming them electronically and then accurately targeting them with anti-aircraft guns, destroying them mid-air." According to army officials, this exercise was not merely a display of military strength but part of a mission-ready strategy. It mentioned that in recent years, the use of drones and high-tech weapons has increased rapidly in conflicts around the world....