New Delhi, October 21: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday conducted an Industry Outreach Programme at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to discuss its long-term capability requirements in unmanned and autonomous systems with industry stakeholders, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups and technology partners.
The programme was chaired by Air Marshal Premkumar K, VM, VSM, Director General (Weapon Systems), Air Headquarters, and attended by around 100 representatives from drone companies and affiliated industry partners.
The initiative builds on the IAF Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Roadmap, released during IAF Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran on September 14. During Wednesday’s programme, the IAF outlined its future operational requirements and technological priorities and distributed copies of the roadmap booklet to industry representatives to facilitate a better understanding of the force’s requirements.
The roadmap envisages a layered and networked family of unmanned systems to address the evolving demands of air power. It emphasises the development of reliable, resilient and operationally relevant indigenous capabilities that can complement existing and future manned platforms.
The IAF also highlighted the importance of Aatmanirbharta in unmanned systems, describing indigenous capability development as an operational necessity rather than merely an aspiration.
Key technology areas identified for focused attention include indigenous propulsion systems, autonomous software, resilient navigation and standardised interfaces. Strengthening these areas would help reduce dependence on external sources while supporting the growth of India’s domestic defence technology ecosystem.
Through sustained engagement with industry, MSMEs, startups and academia, the IAF aims to accelerate innovation, promote collaborative development and translate emerging technologies into operational capabilities.
The outreach programme forms part of the IAF’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with domestic industry and build a robust indigenous ecosystem capable of supporting India’s self-reliance in defence technology.
