AI-Enabled Drones Mark Historic Shift in Warfare, Retired General Says
Retired Lieutenant General Raj Shukla described AI-driven drone warfare as an epochal development while speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. He called it a “once in three centuries” moment and said the change was bigger than the challenge posed by China, according to the supplied report.
Artificial-intelligence-driven drone warfare represents an historic transformation in military affairs, retired Lieutenant General Raj Shukla said at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. The former Army commander described the development as a “once in three centuries” moment and called it an epoch. His remarks focused on the scale of change that AI and drones could bring to warfare.
The supplied material presents his assessment as larger than the challenge posed by China. It does not provide further details of the comparison or set out specific military, technological or strategic measures that he recommended. AI-enabled drones are the subject of increasing attention in defence discussions because the technology combines unmanned platforms with automated or assisted decision-making.
However, the source material does not describe a particular drone system, battlefield deployment or operation. It also does not state whether General Shukla was referring to developments already in use or to capabilities expected in the future. No figures on drone production, deployment or casualties were provided.
The comments were made at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. The supplied account does not identify other speakers, give the date or location of the session, or record a response from the government or armed forces. General Shukla’s statement therefore provides an assessment of the significance of AI-drone warfare, rather than details of a new policy or military announcement.
The available material supports his characterization of the technology as a major historical shift, but does not specify its practical consequences.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.