India’s Modern And Combat Drones: In January 2018, a few days after rebels attacked the Russian-held Khameem military base in northwestern Syria, 13 drones simultaneously struck the same site. Never before in the annals of warfare had such an unprecedented assault been witnessed.
Russian forces shot down seven of these drones and jammed the remaining six. No lives were lost, and no property damage occurred during the attack, yet it unfolded as a troubling development.
The Khameem attack was carried out by a non-state actor. But now conventional militaries such as Russia and Ukraine are regularly using swarm drones to strike targets.
What are Swarm Drones?
Drones, heralded as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), embody unparalleled cost-effectiveness, effortlessly intuitive operation, and wield capabilities that profoundly upheave conventional approaches to warfare.
Although the drones used for the attack on Khameem Air Base were rudimentary in design, they symbolized a future of warfare in which multiple drones attack targets in cooperation and coordination. And operate autonomously and with extraordinary speed without moment-to-moment human intervention.
Such drones or ‘UAVs’ in defense parlance are called ‘swarm drones’ in which a group of drones, 10 or 100 or more than 1000 drones fly together to hit a target.
Within this setup, every individual drone operates autonomously while also seamlessly collaborating with the other drones within its group. This cooperative approach allows each drone to efficiently execute its designated tasks without requiring any intervention from a human operator throughout the entire process.
What is India Striving for Future Defense Capability?
India’s defense leaders have been watching closely. In 2021, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane pointed to the Syrian conflict and Armenia-Azerbaijan war, saying that smart, AI-powered drones have changed warfare—outperforming old-school weapons like tanks and artillery.
In India, there are notable efforts underway to enhance drone capabilities for both offensive purposes and to develop a robust counter-drone system, aimed at safeguarding critical installations from potential attacks.
A clear testament to this is the liberalization of the drone policy, wherein the Indian government has allocated ₹120 crore in its 2022-2023 budget to foster domestic drone production. Furthermore, private companies within India have also been encouraged to actively contribute to the expansion of drone manufacturing capacity. This is part of efforts to make India a major drone hub by 2030.
Sameer Joshi, founder of a company that manufactures swarm drones for the Indian Air Force says that ‘Swarm drones are the future of war. And India is also trying to take part in it. Embracing the ‘Make in India’ initiative, India is fervently backing pioneering startups striving to conceive ingenious concepts.
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As part of these efforts, India launched a Drone Startup Award in 2018 which was won for the first time by Sameer Joshi’s company ‘Newspace’.
Talking about defense drones during an air show, Samir Joshi said that in 2018, 50 to 60 startups in India were competing for 1000 drone orders. Now there are 200 companies for 2500 drone orders.
This means that the use and demand for drones has increased. Speaking at the same event, Ankit Mehta, CEO of drone start-up ‘Idea Forge’ pointed out that India’s defense sector is now taking drones seriously.
“In my observations, there has been a remarkable transformation in the approach towards drone regulations – shifting from neglecting them, to outright resistance, and then gradually embracing and endorsing their importance,” he remarked.
Mehta’s startup created the prototype of the vertical drone used in the 2009 Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Three Idiots’. Now Indian forces are using their drones on the Line of Actual Control with China. The Army has signed several contracts with his company to supply high-flying and vertical-flying drones that could prove to be a useful weapon for the Army in monitoring border areas.
These drones can potentially fly at extreme altitudes even in sub-zero temperatures and perform their tasks in the sky for long periods of time without being ‘traceable’. The company’s drones have been used for civilian purposes as well as to detect militants in Kashmir.
Manufacturing of Drones In India
India’s domestic drone program began with the use of American drones. Assisted by this unmanned aerial vehicle, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) crafted ‘Lakshya,’ an extraordinary drone surpassing human vision.
In subsequent endeavors, DRDO engineered a fleet of short-range drones like ‘Nishant’ and ‘Gagan,’ boasting the remarkable ability to generate high-resolution 3D imagery. Similarly, ‘Rustam Two’ has auto-landing capability and is the best drone for surveillance and spying.
However, India has imported the most drones from Israel. Instead, it was in 1998 when India initially imported drones from Israel.
Anticipated by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is a remarkable surge in India’s drone production capacity. By the year 2025, the projected value will scale the heights to an impressive $4.2 billion. Looking ahead to 2030, it will take a soaring leap to an astonishing $23 billion.
However, the realization of these ambitious growth projections hinges primarily on the government’s policies. At present, the government has enacted a ban on importing drones from foreign nations, allowing exceptions only for research and defense applications. This strategic move is aimed at fostering and propelling indigenous drone production within India’s borders.
India Wants To Become Drone Manufacturing Hub By 2030
Within India’s aerial drone prowess, whether crafted domestically or procured internationally, lies a predominant focus on low- and medium-altitude drone technology. India has to rely on other countries for advanced drones capable of flying high
In a momentous occasion during his latest trip to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi solidified an agreement for 31 cutting-edge Predator drones, renowned for their ‘high altitude long endurance’ capabilities.
Defense expert Brigadier Retired Rahul Bhosle highlights that India does not have an indigenously developed alternative to such drones and has no partnership with any other country to develop one. In the realm of surveillance prowess, none can surpass this exceptional drone,” he proudly declares. Beyond mere surveillance, it possesses an astounding capacity to pinpoint and engage targets.
When discussing the infamous 2021 drone assault on the Jammu Air Base, he reveals, “Following the Jammu incident, we have crafted a fleet of anti-drone drones, now in deployment under the Indian Air Force’s watchful eye.”
India and Its Neighboring Countries
India continues to grapple with strained relations, both with China and Pakistan. But if we talk about China’s capabilities, it has developed its own indigenous drone system.
Sameer Joshi says that ‘since the early 2000s, China decided that what they have is not very good, but what they want is good and unique. And he started working on what he wanted. They have changed everything in the last 20 years.’
Amidst the absence of real-world warfare implementation, the true potential of China’s homegrown drones remains challenging to ascertain. Nevertheless, one thing remains evident: China has fervently cultivated a diverse fleet of drones and continues their developmental pursuits, keenly envisioning the possibilities that lie ahead.
Similarly, Pakistan has drones provided with the help of China and Turkey. The prowess of Turkey-sourced drones has been vividly showcased in conflicts such as the Azerbaijan-Armenia war and the Ukraine-Russia confrontation.
“Israeli and American drones give us an edge over Pakistan, and to some extent over China, because they are battle-tested,” says Bhosle.
Can India Become a Global Hub For Drones?
In the pursuit of establishing a presence within an industry predominantly governed by the US and China, India has turned to the expertise of individuals like Sameer Joshi and Mehta. Simultaneously, amidst the emergence of formidable players like Turkey and Iran, these talents play a pivotal role in shaping India’s foothold.
Drone manufacturers in India point to difficulties in manufacturing drones locally, such as licensing of software and challenges such as importing hardware used in future drones. Despite acknowledging the government’s efforts, he asserts that unresolved matters like funding still persist.
Defense and international relations expert Qamar Agha says that India has a large technical community spread across the world that can be an asset to its drone industry. Finding funds for these projects is more difficult, he says.
“Technology is no longer monopolized by anyone,” he claims. Rather, more funding is needed. Unlocking India’s boundless potential necessitates an infusion of government funding.
But can the technological prowess available in India overcome the challenges facing its nascent drone industry?
Joshi says the government has been listening closely to drone developers like him for the past two or three years, but “I believe we will get the first indication between 2025 and 2027 whether what the government wants for the drone sector will be realised.” Whether we are on it or not.