New Delhi
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced India’s goal of becoming a global drone hub, enhancing both economic growth and the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Speaking at the Delhi Defence Dialogue at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, Singh highlighted government initiatives to make India a leader in drone technology.
Singh noted ongoing efforts to strengthen research and development in the drone sector, including certification processes and intellectual property generation. Through programs like iDEX and ADITI, India has introduced rewards for drone innovation, driving further advancements.
“Drones and swarm technology are transforming warfare,” Singh said, explaining how these innovations reshape traditional concepts of land, air, and water combat. He noted that drones have shifted global perceptions of warfare since World War II, blending traditional combat dimensions.
On defense exports, Singh shared that India now exports defense products to over 100 countries, with the United States, France, and Armenia leading as major importers. India aims to reach ₹50,000 crore in defense exports by 2029.
Highlighting India’s commitment to emerging technologies, Singh emphasized recent AI guidelines issued for DRDO projects. DRDO’s system labs are now integrating AI into defense products, with each Defense Public Sector Undertaking following a specific AI roadmap.
Singh added that India’s adaptive defense strategies are also aimed at countering information warfare threats to national security.
The Delhi Defence Dialogue serves as a key platform for discussing India’s defense landscape amid global security challenges, encouraging collaboration among defense experts and policymakers to shape India’s long-term defense strategies in a complex geopolitical environment.
