Defence Minister highlighted the pivotal role of drones and counter-drone technologies in future warfare and there is an urgent need to build a drone production ecosystem to ensure strategic autonomy and enhance defence preparedness.
Role of Drones in Warfare
• Surveillance: Drones provide real-time, high-definition surveillance, enabling military personnel to monitor enemy positions and movements without putting troops at risk.
• Suppression of Defences: Russia’s drone campaign, for instance, makes use of Shahed drones to saturate Ukrainian air defences.
• Low-cost Warfare: Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web demonstrated that low-cost UAVs combined with accessible technologies can have strategic impact deep into enemy lines.
• Electronic Warfare: Some drones are designed with electronic warfare features, allowing them to jam or spoof enemy radar and communication systems.
Initiatives for Augmenting Drone Production Ecosystem
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Drone and Drone Components: Aims to promote high-value domestic manufacturing by encouraging local production.
• Import Policy: Government announced import ban on drones in CBU (Completely Built-Up), SKD (Semi-Knocked Down), and CKD (Completely Knocked Down) units.
• Tax Rationalisation: GST on drones was reduced to a uniform 5% in September 2025.
• Promotion Platforms:Platform such as Bharat Drone Shakti, Bharat Drone Mahotsav and the Drone International Expo promote Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) start-ups and new business models.
• SwaYaan: Capacity Building programme for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems
