India, Feb. 23 -- Drones have captured global military imagination, dominating conflicts from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and creating the impression that mass and saturation now determine victory. Yet how wars actually end tells a different story. Some conflicts have de-escalated swiftly after decisive air campaigns, while others have dragged on despite extensive drone use. For India, this distinction is critical, shaping how future sub-continental conflicts may be fought and how swiftly they can be decisively concluded. At the heart of this debate is the distinction between Tier-1 and Tier-2 airpower.

Tier-1 airpower represents the pinnacle of military aviation: modern fighters, fused sensors, AI-enabled planning, and - crucially...