Exercise Cold Start: India’s Mega Drone Drill

India will host a large-scale tri-service exercise called ‘Cold Start’ in Madhya Pradesh in October 2025. It will be the biggest joint drill on drones and counter-drone systems since *Operation Sindoor*. The exercise highlights India’s growing focus on modern, technology-driven warfare.

What It Is

Exercise Cold Start is a tri-service military drill involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It will focus on testing drones, UAVs, and counter-drone technologies. The exercise will simulate real aerial threats and evaluate India’s air defence preparedness.

Objectives

The main aims are:

* To assess operational readiness against drones and new aerial threats. * To identify gaps in current air defence systems. * To strengthen jointness among armed forces. * To ensure India stays ahead of adversaries like Pakistan in drone warfare and jamming technologies.

Key Features

The exercise will include:

* Live drills with drones and counter-drone systems.

* Use of GPS jamming, electronic warfare, and surveillance systems.

* Testing of indigenous defence technologies developed with industry and academia.

* Collaboration among armed forces, R\&D agencies, industry, and universities.

The concept is inspired by the Sudarshan Chakra, an integrated defence vision against drones, UAVs, hypersonic weapons, and future threats.

Significance

Cold Start is not just about testing technology—it is about building synergy between military, industry, and academia. It also sends a strong message of preparedness and innovation in modern warfare.

Conclusion

Exercise Cold Start marks a crucial step in India’s journey towards a future-ready defence system. By combining joint training with cutting-edge technology, India strengthens its position to face evolving aerial threats with confidence and resilience.