By Surabhi Gupta
New Delhi: The Indian Army has made a strong commitment to creating a strong and self-reliant ecosystem for drones and next-generation military technologies, marking a pivotal moment in India's defence modernisation journey. At the FICCI-organised conference-cum-exhibition on 'New Age Military Technologies'—held in the presence of representatives from the Indian government and the defence industrial base—senior army commanders emphasised the need for civil-military fusion, deeper industry collaboration, and urgent investment in indigenous research and development.
Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance) Lt Gen Rahul R Singh emphasised that “the armed forces of India must be ready now and future-ready,” adding that the country must prepare to operate across all five generations of warfare. He noted that India is currently facing a landscape shaped by high-tech, AI-driven hybrid warfare.
Stressing the urgency of self-reliance, he asserted that “Atmanirbharta in defence is not an option”. Alluding to the nation's dependence on foreign sources for high-grade drone components, he said that no external power should have the ability to hold India hostage over access to critical technologies.
Drone-Centric Warfare Doctrine
A central topic of discussion at the day-long event was the military's increasing reliance on drone technologies for logistics, surveillance, and combat, as well as the need for home-grown options.
“We don’t yet have a single indigenous strategic partner capable of delivering a drone that can carry 10 kg [payload] at high altitudes,” a senior Major General from the Indian Army said in an interaction with ETV Bharat. He explained the challenges India faces in developing drones that function in difficult terrains, mountains, snow-laden zones, and high-altitude theatres like Ladakh, where conventional drones fail due to limited payload capacity and performance loss in thin air.
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“Solar-powered drones are in development, and R&D is ongoing for platforms that can persist longer and operate stealthily,” he said, acknowledging India's promise in joint ventures and indigenous manufacturing, but adding that “most flight controllers are still imported.”
He added, “We have over 10,000 strategic partners who have expressed interest. Contracts worth $60 million have already been signed in the last few months, and we are expecting $200 million worth of drone-related contracts in the coming four months.”
Drone Framework by September–October
Lt Gen Singh confirmed that the Army, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, is finalising a comprehensive Drone Framework, expected to be released by September or October 2025.
“The framework will focus on incentivizing domestic production, removing systemic vulnerabilities, and easing testing protocols,” he said, urging private industry to invest not just in manufacturing but in component-level R&D, including sensors, propulsion systems, flight controllers, and cybersecurity safeguards.
He acknowledged existing challenges: “Many critical drone parts, especially flight controllers, are being imported. There's always a threat of malware or backdoors in such components, which is why a secure and self-reliant drone ecosystem is non-negotiable.”
Fusing Industry, R&D, and Armed Forces
In a candid message to the industry, Lt Gen Singh called for what he termed the "4 Cs" approach, cooperate, collaborate, compete, and don’t complain. He reminded manufacturers that the defence sector demands discipline, quality, and timely delivery, adding, “The soldier alone cannot win a war. It’s soldier and industry together.”
Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General of Sustenance, Indian Army, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the changing nature of warfare. “Wars are becoming increasingly intense and complex due to evolving geopolitical dynamics and rapid technological advancements,” he said. “We are looking at an era of multi-domain operations, from land and sea to cyber and space.”
From Detection to Strike: Drones as Multi-Mission Assets
The Army is already using drones extensively for counter-insurgency operations, border surveillance, infiltration detection, and tactical logistics in operational areas like the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir. However, officials pointed out that most of these platforms are not yet equipped for deep offensive missions or prolonged high-altitude logistics.
"Today, one drone can do what it previously took an entire platoon to execute. But we are still facing a critical gap in high-altitude logistics drones with 10kg+ payloads,” said the senior Major General, adding that such capability is vital for mountain warfare scenarios.
Towards a $90 Million Defence Drone Market
According to industry and government estimates, India’s defence drone market could reach $90 million over the next five years. In this context, the military is actively seeking meaningful joint ventures, those that involve “time-bound transfer of technology”, not just component assembly.
The officer cited Project Abhyaas Sindoor, a catalyst initiative launched to consolidate drone manufacturing interest, which he described as a game-changer. “From a person in the textile business to a tech startup founder, anyone who can contribute meaningfully to drone innovation is welcome,” he said.
He added, “But this won’t happen overnight. This is not just about importing components and assembling drones, it’s about mastering flight control software, stealth engineering, endurance design, and system integration.”
Private Sector Weighs In
Representing the industry, Vinod Sahay, Chair of FICCI’s Defence & Homeland Security Committee and President, Aerospace & Defence, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said, “Unmanned and autonomous systems are the future. They’ll dominate air, land, and maritime warfare.”
Zen Technologies CMD and FICCI Co-Chair Ashok Atluri added that Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) companies are “strategic national assets” and must be “protected, nurtured, and incentivised.”
Ashish Kansal, CMD of SMPP Ltd, noted, “India’s defence industry is at the cusp of a technological transformation, not just because of necessity, but also ambition and capability.”
The Road Ahead: Testing, Standards, Innovation
Calling for a network of standardised testing facilities, Lt Gen Singh said the absence of such centres delays procurement cycles and hinders fast-track innovation. “If we set high-quality testing and certification standards, we can drastically cut procurement time and improve battlefield deployment timelines,” he noted.
IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, who also addressed the gathering, cautioned that climate events can now heavily impact military operations and infrastructure. “Drones will play a crucial role in disaster response, terrain mapping, and intelligence during climate-induced disasters,” he added.
“We must be prepared, not just for today’s battles, but for wars of the future, where decisions are made in milliseconds, and machines do what humans once did,” said Lt Gen Singh.
