Indian Air Force Releases 'IAF UAS Roadmap' to Accelerate Indigenous Drone Development

In a significant defense policy development, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, launched the inaugural "IAF Dronathon-2026" at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer and officially released the "IAF Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Roadmap". The three-day event gathered more than 20 leading defence companies, start-ups, MSMEs, and research organizations to evaluate emerging drone technologies under real-world operational environments. The newly released UAS Roadmap serves as an authoritative strategic policy document designed to offer clarity to the Indian defence industry regarding the Air Force's operational priorities. By outlining future capability requirements, the roadmap enables domestic manufacturers, academia, and innovators to align their research and development efforts directly with national defence procurement needs. During the event, participating firms demonstrated advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems, highlighting capabilities in autonomous flight, swarm technologies, surveillance, electronic warfare, and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS). The IAF emphasizes that unmanned systems form a vital operational complement to manned aircraft, enhancing persistence, responsiveness, and tactical reach in contested environments. Defence officials noted that moving directly from technology demonstration to operational deployment is essential for technological sovereignty under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The roadmap is expected to streamline procurement cycles, foster public-private collaboration, and bolster indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities over the coming decade.