Future Of Drone Warfare In South Asia

The military confrontation between India and Pakistan that took place in May 2025 has demonstrated that in South Asian, the employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in active combat roles has become a reality. This growing utility of UAVs stems from their cost-effectiveness, precision, flexibility, and the reduced risk associated with their unmanned nature. In terms of active combat, both India and Pakistan have so far restricted the use of UAVs to tactical systems. However, New Delhi’s shortage of fighter squadrons makes it increasingly probable that India may employ larger Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) systems, which could also lead Pakistan to follow suit. Nevertheless, the use of drones in South Asia for active combat tasks may be dangerously escalatory due to the nuclearised nature of this theatre, the absence of doctrinal clarity concerning the employment of UAVs, and both states’ asymmetric strategic compulsions.