The procurement plans are nearing completion, with deliveries anticipated within 18 to 24 months, significantly increasing from recent government orders totaling 30 billion rupees ($313 million) for tactical drones, as stated by Smit Shah, president of the organization.
“In upcoming phases, procurements for tactical drones in India could surpass 200 billion rupees, which is more than $2 billion,” Shah added, representing the Drone Federation India, which includes over 550 companies and closely cooperates with the government.
Shah mentioned that these new orders might adopt a fast-track procurement method aimed at addressing urgent operational requirements, with expected delivery within 24 months.
The defence ministry did not promptly respond to inquiries regarding the potential purchase order, which is first reported by Reuters.
LOW-COST DRONES’ OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES IN FOCUS
India’s initiative follows confrontations with Pakistan in May last year, when both nations deployed unmanned aerial vehicles en masse for the first time, underscoring the offensive capabilities of low-cost drones.
Global conflicts, including those in Ukraine and Iran, have accelerated adoption, lowering costs and transforming battlefield strategies.
In March, the defence ministry sanctioned a proposal estimated at about 2.38 trillion rupees ($24.85 billion) for purchasing transport aircraft, missile systems, and “remotely piloted strike aircraft,” without disclosing a detailed spending breakdown.
“Drones serve as force multipliers in contemporary warfare,” stated Ramesh Chandra Padhi, an executive at IG Defence, which specializes in advanced unmanned aerial and short-range missile systems.
He further explained, “The Indian army is adopting emergency or fast-track procurement to hasten the integration of drones on a large scale,” added the former senior army officer.
EXPLOSION OF THE DRONE INDUSTRY IN INDIA
India is home to over 600 companies involved in drone manufacturing and component production, with more than 100 focused specifically on defense applications.
These enterprises range from major players like Adani Group, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Advanced Systems to innovative startups like ideaForge, Newspace Research, and Asteria Aerospace.
They specialize in developing systems for reconnaissance, logistics, loitering munitions, precision strikes, and critical components.
In recent years, India has streamlined its typically slow defense procurement protocols to facilitate faster drone acquisitions, especially after clashes with Pakistan unveiled deficiencies in surveillance and strike capabilities, as reported by Reuters.
New Delhi has begun to utilize emergency procurement powers and accelerated processes under the Defence Acquisition Procedure, reducing timelines from years to mere months.
Concurrently, in its endeavor to enhance domestic production, the government prioritizes locally manufactured systems.
The government has expanded programs such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to support prototype development and enable smaller firms to secure initial orders, expediting production scaling.
Moreover, the defense ministry has broadened procurement avenues for startups and private entities, relaxed testing standards, and encouraged the armed forces to incorporate systems through repeat and interim orders, enabling companies to refine products swiftly.
These transformations are revolutionizing India’s drone industry, traditionally dominated by smaller entities, as enhanced order visibility and supportive policies unlock funding and collaborative opportunities, said DFI’s Shah.
Venture funding and partnerships with larger defense firms have surged, with companies increasing manufacturing and research to meet burgeoning military requirements, he noted.
($1=95.7750 rupees)
