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India is preparing to launch what could become its largest-ever military drone procurement programme, with orders worth more than Rs 17,000 crore expected to be placed with domestic manufacturers as the armed forces accelerate the induction of unmanned systems across operational roles.
According to a Reuters report, the proposed procurement, valued at over $2 billion, is in advanced stages and is likely to be executed through fast-track acquisition mechanisms designed to meet urgent operational requirements. Deliveries are expected within 18 to 24 months.
The planned acquisition marks a significant escalation from recent government contracts worth around Rs 3,000 crore for tactical-class drones and reflects the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare. Drones are increasingly being employed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), precision strikes, logistics support and battlefield monitoring.
Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), said the next phase of drone acquisitions could exceed Rs 20,000 crore.
“In the next phase, tactical drone procurements in India may exceed 200 billion rupees, or more than $2 billion,” Shah told Reuters. He added that the purchases are likely to follow a fast-track procurement route, with deliveries required within two years.
The Defence Ministry has not officially commented on the reported procurement plans.
The move comes as India reassesses its military requirements following the extensive use of drones during last year’s military confrontation with Pakistan. The conflict highlighted both the offensive and defensive potential of relatively low-cost unmanned systems, mirroring lessons emerging from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
India’s broader military modernisation programme is also placing greater emphasis on autonomous and remotely piloted platforms. In March, the Defence Ministry approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 2.38 lakh crore, including transport aircraft, missile systems and remotely piloted strike aircraft.
India’s drone manufacturing ecosystem has expanded rapidly in recent years. More than 600 companies are now involved in producing drones and related components, with over 100 focused on defence applications.
The sector includes major defence manufacturers such as Adani Group, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Advanced Systems, alongside specialist firms and startups such as ideaForge, NewSpace Research, Zen Technologies, and Asteria Aerospace.
These companies are developing a wide range of systems, including reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, logistics platforms, precision-strike systems and critical drone subsystems.
Team BharatShakti
