ONE of Elon Musk`s recent tweets may help one understand the future of combat and military superiority. He wrote: `Some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35. Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway and will just get pilots killed.` This is a clear indication of the emerging world.
India is making notable strides in the field of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), but Pakistan is lagging behind, especially when it comes to warfare robotics powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Unlike India, Pakistan lacks smaller military drone companies. Even in the private sector, there is minimal interest in the field, as the focus remains on controlling the masses rather than advancing technological capabilities.
This disparity raises the possibility of drones falling into the hands of anti-state groups, similar to how drone technology was used in Syria recently.
It is imperative for the military establishment to prioritise investment in heavily equipped small drones. Simultaneously, private investors should seek to acquirebasic drone technology from, say, China to develop military-grade drones domestically.
Without this strategic shift, Pakistan risks losing soldiers on multiple fronts.
