India's drone doctrine takes flight with planned $2 billion indigenous procurement

India is planning to procure of military drones, worth more than $2 billion from domestic manufacturers. It marks a significant shift in the country's approach to Modern warfare and changing dynamics of battlefield. The move reflects the lessons drawn from Operation Sindoor, and conflicts in Ukraine and the West Asia.

India is preparing its largest-ever drone acquisition programme, with deliveries expected over the next 18 to 24 months, according to news agency Reuters report. The procurement is expected to focus on Indian-made systems and could be executed through fast-track acquisition procedures designed to meet urgent operational requirements.

According to Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation India, the next phase of military drone procurement could exceed Rs 200 billion (more than $2 billion), making it the country's largest-ever acquisition of unmanned systems. He further states that the procurement is expected to accelerate the induction of domestically manufactured drones.

The expected orders are likely to benefit a growing ecosystem of Indian drone manufacturers ranging from established defence companies to startups specialising in surveillance, loitering munitions and autonomous systems.

India's drone industry has witnessed rapid growth over the past years, driven by government support, defence modernisation and the push for self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. India has more than 600 drone and component manufacturers, with over 100 companies focused on defence applications.

With major defence companies like Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence and Larsen & Toubro, Indian startup companies, Idea Forge, New Space Research and Asteria Aerospace are making significant progress in the field of drone technology.

Indian drone companies are developing a wide range of systems, including surveillance drones, logistics drones, loitering munitions, precision-strike platforms and counter-drone technologies.

Government initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), simplifies procurement procedures. The initiative increased opportunities for private sector participation and attract investments and increases manufacturing capacity.