Army Chief Stresses Need for Innovative Management of ‘Air Littoral’ at Tri-Services Symposium

By A Staff Reporter

Delhi: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi underscored the critical role of the “air littoral” in future combat scenarios while addressing the inaugural Tri Services Academia Technology Symposium in the capital.

General Dwivedi noted that recent conflicts have demonstrated how unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-unmanned aerial systems are reshaping the dynamics of the battlefield. He emphasized that the airspace just above the land battle area, referred to as the “air littoral,” requires both effective exploitation and efficient management.

“Persistent presence of weapon and radar systems, along with small arms, mortars, artillery, UAS, counter-UAS, rockets, missiles, and other flying platforms, makes this space highly contested,” General Dwivedi remarked. He pointed out that this layer of the battlespace cannot be overlooked, as it directly affects both offensive and defensive military capabilities.

Highlighting the electromagnetic spectrum as a vital component of this domain, the Army Chief stressed the need for innovative approaches. “We require de novo solutions for force application and preservation in this limited but critical space,” he added.