Historic procurement: India is preparing to place its biggest military drone order, exceeding $2 billion, with domestic firms for delivery within two years.
Strategic shift: The push reflects lessons from recent conflicts and aims to boost self-reliance in unmanned warfare capabilities.
Industry boost: Over 600 Indian drone manufacturers, including 100 in defence, are poised to benefit from expanded orders and investment.
India’s largest drone procurement in motion
India is in advanced stages of approving a military drone order exceeding $2 billion from domestic manufacturers, marking its biggest unmanned systems purchase to date. Deliveries are expected within 18–24 months, with procurement likely through fast-track routes to meet urgent operational needs. This leap from recent ₹3,000 crore tactical drone buys reflects a decisive scale-up in unmanned warfare investment
Lessons from modern conflicts and Operation Sindoor
The procurement drive is shaped by India’s experience in Operation Sindoor and global conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war, which showcased drones as force multipliers. In Operation Sindoor, India deployed indigenous loitering munitions and precision-guided systems to strike high-value Pakistani targets, highlighting the value of low-cost, high-impact unmanned platforms. Defence leaders stress the need for self-reliance in both drones and their critical components
Ghatak UCAV and the China-Pakistan equation
Parallel to the procurement push, India’s Ghatak stealth UCAV is advancing toward operational deployment, designed for manned-unmanned teaming with frontline fighters. It targets high-risk missions against China’s advanced air defences and Pakistan’s non-stealth drone fleet, aiming to neutralise key infrastructure without risking crewed aircraft. While China’s GJ-11 programme is more mature, Ghatak’s low-observable design and long combat radius offer strategic penetration capabilities
Indigenous ecosystem poised for rapid growth
India’s drone industry now counts over 600 manufacturers, with more than 100 focused on defence, including major firms like Tata Advanced Systems and start-ups like ideaForge. Government schemes such as iDEX and the Production Linked Incentive have streamlined procurement, funded prototypes, and encouraged private sector participation. Large-scale orders are expected to drive manufacturing scale, attract investment, and enhance export competitiveness
