Overview
On 19 March 2026, रक्षा मंत्री Rajnath Singh addressed the National Defence Industries Conclave. He highlighted the lessons from the Russia‑Ukraine and Iran‑Israel wars, urging India to build a fully indigenous ड्रोन ecosystem.
Key Developments
- Emphasis on आत्म‑निर्भरता at both product and component levels, from airframe moulds to software, engines and batteries.
- Call for accelerated development of काउंटर‑ड्रोन तकनीकें to safeguard Indian airspace.
- Integration of कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता, रोबोटिक्स and simulation tools in manufacturing.
- Appeal to industry leaders, especially रक्षा सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र उद्यम, to improve product quality and reduce reliance on imports.
Important Facts
The minister noted that most countries manufacturing drones still import critical components from a few nations, making true self‑sufficiency challenging. He stressed that India must develop indigenous capabilities for:
- Airframe moulds and composite materials
- Propulsion engines and power‑dense batteries