In a push to strengthen domestic capabilities in unmanned aerial technologies, India’s Ministry of Defence hosted a workshop and exhibition today on the indigenisation of UAS and counter-UAS at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
Organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), the event is part of a broader effort to reduce India’s reliance on foreign suppliers for critical defence components.
The initiative comes amid growing recognition of the strategic role UAS and counter-drone technologies play in modern military operations.
The workshop follows the recent India-Pakistan confrontation referred to as Operation Sindoor, where indigenous UAS and C-UAS systems were reportedly deployed for surveillance and precision targeting.
Defence officials have credited these technologies with helping to minimize risk to personnel while maintaining operational effectiveness, highlighting the importance of homegrown systems in active conflict scenarios.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurated the event, stressing the importance of counter-UAS in asymmetric warfare:
“Asymmetric drone warfare is making large platforms vulnerable and driving militaries to rethink the conceptual aspects of air doctrines, development of C-UAS and adaptive moves of engagement,” he said.
The workshop reportedly concluded with a valedictory address by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, to present key findings and unveil a policy roadmap to support the domestic development of UAS and C-UAS systems and subcomponents.
The agenda includes technical presentations, panel discussions and live demonstrations of indigenous technologies. Discussions are expected to focus on innovation, capability development and the challenges facing India’s defence manufacturing sector, especially in areas such as sensors, propulsion, communications and electronic warfare.
The workshop is part of India’s broader efforts to advance self-reliance in defence under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative, with unmanned systems seen as a high-priority area due to their growing relevance across surveillance, combat and homeland security missions.
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Post Image Credit: PTI
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