Silent Skies, Shifting Battles: The Rise of Drones in Modern Warfare

In Silent Skies, Shifting Battles: The Rise of Drones in Modern Warfare, discover how unmanned aerial vehicles-once dismissed as science fiction-have quietly transformed the battlefield. Drones now see, follow, and strike without warning. No boots on the ground. No warning shot. Just an eye in the sky-and a target below.

This book unpacks the rise of stand-off warfare, where powerful nations can strike across borders without escalation, and smaller players can punch above their weight. It explores not just the tech, but the tension: Who decides when a machine can kill? And what does this mean for the future of war?

Drones have transformed the rules of engagement. Silent Skies, Shifting Battles is a gripping exploration of this silent revolution in warfare-where soldiers no longer need to cross borders to strike, and machines can make life-and-death decisions in milliseconds.

Written by an Indian Army veteran, this book blends deep operational insight with sharp strategic analysis. It traces the rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from early prototypes to swarm-enabled combat, and unpacks the ethical dilemmas, technological leaps, and geopolitical shifts they bring.

• The untold history of drones in global and Indian military operations

• Real-world case studies from Ukraine, Gaza, Pakistan, and Nagorno-Karabakh

• How loitering munitions, drone swarms, and AI are changing tactics and outcomes

• India's current and future drone capabilities-including the Ghatak and MQ-9B

• The invisible battlefield of ISR, counter-drone warfare, and quantum-era threats

• Legal, moral, and psychological questions in a world of remote-controlled war

"A timely and unsettling dive into the era of unmanned warfare. Silent Skies, Shifting Battles doesn't just report the facts-it challenges the reader to confront what modern war is becoming."
- Strategic Frontline Review

"An exceptional blend of insight and foresight. Col Ramchandani captures the quiet revolution of drone warfare with a soldier's eye and a strategist's depth. A must-read for defense thinkers and curious civilians alike."
- Brig. Govindarajan Srinivasan, Veteran

"Brilliantly researched, thought-provoking, and urgent-this book reveals the future of conflict, unfolding now."
- Maj Gen Ashok Kumar, Veteran, Air Defence Artillery