Charting India's drone roadmap: Taking lessons from Operation Sindoor, defence ministry to hold drone workshop, expo

In a bid to bring together all relevant stakeholders, including defence experts, policymakers, military leaders, scientists, and private industry players in drone technology, to develop a strategic roadmap for indigenisation, the defence ministry is set to host a workshop and exhibition on 'Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS)'.

 

The event comes in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the India-Pakistan military conflict, which underscored the strategic importance and operational effectiveness of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).

 

According to the Defence Ministry, these played a major role in enhancing situational awareness, enabling precision targeting, and reducing risks to personnel.

 

The event, organised jointly by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, is expected to serve as a catalyst for innovation, knowledge sharing, and long-term capability building in unmanned systems.

ALSO READ: Indian Navy gets 6 new cutting-edge tech from DRDO. All you need to know

The workshop will feature talks by prominent experts, live demonstrations of indigenous technologies, and discussions on overcoming existing challenges in domestic production.

 

"The initiative aligns with India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to bolster national security, enhance defence preparedness, and transform India into a global hub for advanced military technologies," the defence ministry said in a release.

 

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan will be the chief guest at the event, while Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will deliver the closing address.

Defence