India’s manufacturing push is gradually bearing fruit, if the drone tech ecosystem’s role in Operation Sindoor is any indication.

In what was the first ever full-fledged drone war between India and Pakistan, India’s homegrown technologies and startups — ranging from advanced drones and guided munitions to air defence systems — played a pivotal role in both offensive strikes and defensive actions.

Following the conflict, the central government issued statements praising the performance of indigenous high-tech systems. Particular emphasis was given to the role of Drone Federation India (DFI), and drone tech startups like IG Drones, Paras Defence & Space Technologies, Tata Advanced Systems, and Alpha Design Technologies.

While strategic policy moves, including the 2021 ban on drone imports, have helped nurture the sector, experts believe that this real-world showcase of power now marks a turning point for the industry. The opportunity for Indian companies to prove themselves in live conflict scenarios is expected to unlock significant growth and global relevance for the country’s drone tech ecosystem, they say.

“Military conflicts always accelerate the development of critical technologies. It was significant for India that during a serious conflict like the recent Indo-Pak war, we didn’t have to run helter-skelter to procure drones from other countries. Both in the drone and counter-drone domains, the country could clearly showcase the effectiveness of its indigenous design and manufacturing capabilities,” DFI president Smit Shah told Inc42.

Overall, the industry expects faster iterations of drone tech and delivery of upgraded technologies. Shah added that procurement time by the government is expected to get faster, the R&D funding is expected to increase, along with some other key developments in critical areas.

He also told Reuters earlier that the country might now invest heavily in local industry and could spend as high as $470 Mn on UAVs over the next 12 to 24 months, which is almost 3X the pre-conflict levels.

As a result, this event is also expected to boost private funding for the drone industry.

While the defence-focussed drone tech startups often faced hurdles in raising funding from the VCs due to the lengthy and strenuous government tendering process, they believe that after Operation Sindoor, the way private investors view defence investment will also see a shift.

India’s Drone History

The usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones in military operations can be traced back to the 19th century and the First World War. Ever since, various types of drones have been used in global wars.

In fact, India first deployed its military drones during the 1999 war with Pakistan, using Israeli-supplied IAI Heron and Searcher drones.

However, drones in their newest avatars, with cutting-edge AI, robotics, and other technology capabilities, are not more than a decade old. Besides, even as drones found their largest use in India in military operations from the very beginning, they were imported for the longest time.

In recent years, with the emergence of the likes of ideaForge, NewSpace Research, Garuda Aerospace, Asteria Aerospace, among........

© Inc42