The Ministry of Defence has given in-principle clearance for a Rs 500 crore National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT Kanpur, which will provide end-to-end capability spanning the design, testing and certification of military payloads, data links, ground stations and counter-drone systems.
The proposal was prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the principal nodal body for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, and forwarded by the state government to the MoD on 29 May 2026, seeking early sanction and designation of the hub at IIT Kanpur’s Centre of Excellence.
The step followed directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had reviewed the project on 10 April to strengthen the institute, earlier named a CoE with an outlay of Rs 20.3 crore, of which the state funded Rs 15.3 crore, officials said.
“This Hub makes UPDIC a global benchmark in unmanned systems and gives our forces a decisive tech edge. UP will now lead India’s military drone innovation,” a senior state government officer said. The CoE already functions as an integrated centre for research, testing, training and startup incubation in drone technologies.
The Army Design Bureau has been named the single point of contact for coordination. A Monitoring Committee under the Additional Secretary and DG (Acquisition) held its first review on 3 June, where IIT Kanpur was asked to submit a revised proposal by month-end under a whole-of-nation approach.
Officials said the initiative aims to position Uttar Pradesh as a national centre for defence drone technology and accelerate indigenisation under the Make-1 and Make-2 categories, reducing import dependence in critical sub-systems.
