The Ministry of Defence announced on 21 October 2026 that the Indian Air Force (IAF) held an Industry Outreach Programme in New Delhi. The event aimed to share the IAF's long-term requirements for unmanned and autonomous systems with startups, MSMEs, and industry partners. During the programme, the IAF distributed a roadmap booklet to help partners understand operational and technological priorities. The release does not say when these requirements will take effect, but notes the roadmap was originally released on 14 September 2026.
Key points
- Around 100 representatives from drone companies and industry partners attended the event.
- Focus areas include indigenous propulsion, autonomous software, and resilient navigation.
- The goal is to develop indigenous capabilities that complement manned platforms.
- The programme targeted MSMEs, startups, and academia to accelerate innovation.
When it applies
- Industry Outreach Programme
- IAF Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran
Who it affects
- industry partners
Refers to
- IAF Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Roadmap