India is Manifesting Leadership in Drone Technology
Shreya Rastogi, Founder & CEO, SR Aerospace Solutions, 0
Operation Sindoor signaled more than just a display of military might—it marked a turning point in how India integrates emerging technologies into strategic planning. The deployment of drones in high-impact missions, with minimal human risk, is no longer aspirational. Globally too, Ukraine’s reported use of drones to neutralize key Russian air assets has accelerated defense transformation worldwide.
At home, drones have moved well beyond the battlefield. Their use in agriculture, border monitoring, logistics, and infrastructure inspections is expanding quickly. For India, which is aiming to accelerate growth while strengthening last-mile service delivery and security, drones are not just enablers—they are critical infrastructure in the making.
Momentum is visible across sectors. Defense procurement, agricultural deployments, and logistics pilots are underway. Government policy has been broadly supportive. But even as the sector scales, it stands at an inflection point. To evolve from a market of assemblers into a globally competitive innovator, India must deepen its manufacturing base, accelerate R&D, streamline certification, and build global credibility for homegrown technologies.
The Promise and the Reality
Industry estimates suggest India’s drone market could reach $23 billion by 2030. Startups are gaining ground, public sector players are investing, and cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune are emerging as drone technology clusters. The dual-use potential—across national defense and civilian infrastructure—makes drones one of the most strategically important technology domains of the decade.
This growth is powered in part by India’s progress in developing indigenous subsystems. Lightweight, high-thrust propulsion units, low-noise propellers, and embedded controllers are now being tested, certified, and deployed. Some of these systems have cleared rigorous third-party validation and are now operational in defense and commercial platforms. The signal is clear: Indian engineering is catching up, and in select domains, it is leading.
Critical Challenges Facing the Industry
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Despite import bans on finished drones, India relies heavily on foreign suppliers for lithium-ion batteries, flight controllers, and high-end sensors. Materials like carbon fiber, essential for lightweight frames and propellers, are scarce domestically. Small manufacturers hesitate to invest in drone-specific production without guaranteed demand, creating a chicken-and-egg problem.
What’s needed now is a deliberate expansion of incentives. Extending PLI benefits to component manufacturers—not just OEMs—would attract investment in upstream technologies. Defense corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are well-placed to host dedicated drone clusters focused on motors, materials, sensors, and avionics.
The Innovation Deficit
Most Indian drone firms focus on assembly, not core technology. Breakthroughs in battery efficiency, AI-driven autonomy, and swarm coordination remain limited. Unlike Israel or the US, where academia and industry collaborate closely, India’s research institutions and startups often operate in silos. The absence of dedicated drone testing facilities further hampers progress.
Regulatory Bottlenecks
India’s Drone Rules 2021 streamlined civilian
use approvals, but dual-use and defense systems still face long certification cycles—often extending beyond two years—a big challenge for cash-strapped startups. Regulatory frameworks are fragmented, with different ministries enforcing disjointed norms. While Gujarat’s sandbox model offers a glimpse of streamlined testing, a nationwide system is absent.
The Perception Problem
Even when Indian drones meet global standards, skepticism persists. Defense and enterprise buyers often default to foreign brands, assuming superior quality. Without a trusted certification mark—akin to ASTM International standards—homegrown products struggle for credibility.A Blueprint for Global Competitiveness
Fortifying the Supply Chain
The revised PLI scheme must expand beyond drone manufacturers to include component suppliers. Incentivizing battery makers, sensor developers, and material scientists will reduce import dependence. Large firms like Tata Advanced Systems or Bharat Forge could anchor ecosystems, mentoring smaller suppliers in precision manufacturing.
Geographic clusters—leveraging Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu’s defense corridors—could centralize production. Tax incentives for localizing high-value components, such as rare-earth magnets, would accelerate self-reliance.
Accelerating R&D
A National Drone Innovation Mission, funded jointly by the government and private sector, could bridge the R&D gap. Imagine a “Drone Valley” in Bengaluru or Hyderabad or at one of the defense corridors, where startups, DRDO labs, and IITs collaborate on next-gen technologies: hydrogen fuel cells for longer flight times, or AI that enables drones to navigate urban sprawls autonomously.
Academic curricula must evolve too. Introducing drone-focused engineering tracks and government-sponsored challenges (like IDEX) would align research with industry needs.
Streamlining Regulations
A single-window digital platform for approvals—integrating DGCA, MoD, and MeitY—would slash bureaucratic delays. Adopting Gujarat’s sandbox approach nationwide would allow startups to test non-defense applications faster.
For defense procurement, a dedicated fast-track channel—with tenders evaluated in months, not years—could empower startups to scale.
Winning Global Trust
India needs its own “Drone Mark,” a certification guaranteeing quality and safety. Publicizing successes—like CSIR-NAL’s certified propulsion systems—can shift perceptions. Strategic exports to Africa and Southeast Asia, where cost-effective solutions are prized, would build India’s brand as a reliable drone hub.
Also Read: Industry, Academia and Government Synergy Disentangling Societal Challenges
The Path Forward
The drone industry’s success hinges on collaboration. The government must act as an enabler—simplifying policies, funding R&D, and becoming an anchor buyer. Industry leaders should form consortiums to share knowledge and pool resources. Academia must produce not just engineers, but problem-solvers attuned to real-world needs.
India’s drone revolution is within reach, but it demands urgency. By addressing supply chain gaps, turbocharging R&D, and cutting red tape, India can transition from a market of assemblers to a global innovation leader. The blueprint is clear; now, stakeholders must execute it. The question isn’t whether India can become a drone superpower, it surely can and will, but more than that, the question is, how soon? It's time we take a visionary step and act decisively to claim that future that is ours.
The question isn’t whether India can become a drone superpower, it surely can and will, but more than that, the question is, how soon?
The Perception Problem
Even when Indian drones meet global standards, skepticism persists. Defense and enterprise buyers often default to foreign brands, assuming superior quality. Without a trusted certification mark—akin to ASTM International standards—homegrown products struggle for credibility.A Blueprint for Global Competitiveness
Fortifying the Supply Chain
The revised PLI scheme must expand beyond drone manufacturers to include component suppliers. Incentivizing battery makers, sensor developers, and material scientists will reduce import dependence. Large firms like Tata Advanced Systems or Bharat Forge could anchor ecosystems, mentoring smaller suppliers in precision manufacturing.
Geographic clusters—leveraging Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu’s defense corridors—could centralize production. Tax incentives for localizing high-value components, such as rare-earth magnets, would accelerate self-reliance.
Accelerating R&D
A National Drone Innovation Mission, funded jointly by the government and private sector, could bridge the R&D gap. Imagine a “Drone Valley” in Bengaluru or Hyderabad or at one of the defense corridors, where startups, DRDO labs, and IITs collaborate on next-gen technologies: hydrogen fuel cells for longer flight times, or AI that enables drones to navigate urban sprawls autonomously.
Academic curricula must evolve too. Introducing drone-focused engineering tracks and government-sponsored challenges (like IDEX) would align research with industry needs.
Streamlining Regulations
A single-window digital platform for approvals—integrating DGCA, MoD, and MeitY—would slash bureaucratic delays. Adopting Gujarat’s sandbox approach nationwide would allow startups to test non-defense applications faster.
For defense procurement, a dedicated fast-track channel—with tenders evaluated in months, not years—could empower startups to scale.
Winning Global Trust
India needs its own “Drone Mark,” a certification guaranteeing quality and safety. Publicizing successes—like CSIR-NAL’s certified propulsion systems—can shift perceptions. Strategic exports to Africa and Southeast Asia, where cost-effective solutions are prized, would build India’s brand as a reliable drone hub.
Also Read: Industry, Academia and Government Synergy Disentangling Societal Challenges
The Path Forward
The drone industry’s success hinges on collaboration. The government must act as an enabler—simplifying policies, funding R&D, and becoming an anchor buyer. Industry leaders should form consortiums to share knowledge and pool resources. Academia must produce not just engineers, but problem-solvers attuned to real-world needs.
India’s drone revolution is within reach, but it demands urgency. By addressing supply chain gaps, turbocharging R&D, and cutting red tape, India can transition from a market of assemblers to a global innovation leader. The blueprint is clear; now, stakeholders must execute it. The question isn’t whether India can become a drone superpower, it surely can and will, but more than that, the question is, how soon? It's time we take a visionary step and act decisively to claim that future that is ours.