The launch comes amid a decisive shift in the character of warfare, where recent global conflicts have firmly established unmanned systems as force multipliers across surveillance, precision strike, logistics, and air defence. As drones compress decision cycles and expand operational reach, militaries worldwide are reorienting their capabilities. Recognising this shift, the Indian Army has taken a strategic step to clearly articulate its long-term requirements and enable early alignment with the domestic ecosystem.
Presented by the Army Design Bureau, the roadmap provides unprecedented visibility across 30 drone and loitering munition types spanning five operational categories, including surveillance, strike, logistics, air defence, and specialised roles. It serves as a critical blueprint for India’s defence innovation and indigenisation journey.
Designed to guide industry, startups, academia, and R&D institutions, the roadmap aligns research, design and development with real-world operational needs, enabling the ecosystem to build relevant, scalable, and future-ready solutions.
Developed through extensive internal consultations and assessment of evolving battlefield requirements, the roadmap aims to accelerate indigenous design, reduce development cycles, and strengthen procurement preparedness. As one of the largest institutional adopters of drone technologies in India, the Army’s forward-looking articulation is expected to significantly shape the trajectory of the country’s unmanned systems ecosystem.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS) said: “Recent conflicts have clearly demonstrated the central role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. This roadmap reflects the Indian Army’s commitment to building future-ready capabilities through structured engagement with industry and innovation ecosystems. By clearly articulating our requirements, we aim to enable focused development and timely induction of critical technologies.”
Smit Shah, President, Drone Federation India, said: “This roadmap is a pivotal step in aligning India’s drone ecosystem with the operational needs of the Indian Army. It provides long-term visibility, allowing industry, startups, and academia to invest with clarity and confidence. More importantly, it strengthens India’s ability to develop indigenous unmanned capabilities that are globally competitive and operationally relevant.
The launch brought together senior officials from the Indian Army, industry leaders, startups, academia, and key stakeholders from the defence and technology ecosystem. The initiative is expected to act as a critical bridge between the armed forces and the domestic innovation ecosystem, supporting India’s broader objectives of indigenisation and technological leadership in defence. Access to the detailed roadmap will be provided to eligible entities through a structured process involving formal undertakings and non-disclosure agreements.
About Drone Federation India (DFI)
Drone Federation India is an industry-led, non-profit organisation focused on catalysing the growth of India’s drone ecosystem. With a network of over 550 member companies and 5,500+ drone professionals, DFI works closely with government, industry, and academia to enable policy development, drive adoption, and promote indigenous innovation in unmanned aviation.
