India Must Become Global Drone Manufacturing Hub for Strategic Independence: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stated that India should adopt a mission-driven approach to establish itself as a worldwide centre for homegrown drone production in the coming years, ensuring strategic independence.

Addressing the opening session of the two-day National Defence Industries Conclave in New Delhi, Singh cited the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Israel conflicts to underscore the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems and anti-drone capabilities in modern warfare.

He noted that these conflicts clearly demonstrate how critical such technologies have become in contemporary battle scenarios.

Emphasising self-sufficiency, he said India must create a robust ecosystem where drone manufacturing is entirely indigenous.

Reiterating his vision, the Defence Minister said the country should move with focused determination to transform itself into a leading global hub for domestically developed drone systems within a few years.

Speaking at the event attended by MSMEs, start-ups, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), private defence firms, and policymakers, the minister highlighted that building an indigenous drone production network is essential for achieving strategic autonomy, strengthening defence readiness, and ensuring self-reliance.

He further pointed out that current global conflicts highlight the necessity of not only manufacturing drones within the country but also producing all their components domestically.

He explained that everything—from structural frameworks and software to propulsion systems and power units—must be developed in India.

Acknowledging the challenge, he added that many nations still depend heavily on imports, particularly from China, for key drone components.

While urging greater participation from private industry in this sector, Singh assured that the government would provide complete support to help India emerge as a global leader in indigenous drone manufacturing.

Highlighting the contribution of MSMEs in the defence ecosystem, he said that as of February 2026, around 676 start-ups, small enterprises, and individual innovators have become part of the defence innovation network since the launch of the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative in 2018.

He added that 548 agreements have been signed and 566 innovation challenges have been introduced so far.

Out of these, 58 prototypes have been approved for procurement, with an estimated value of about ₹3,853 crore.

Additionally, 45 procurement deals worth nearly ₹2,326 crore have already been finalised.

These developments indicate that innovation efforts are steadily translating into practical technologies, with start-ups and MSMEs playing an increasingly significant role.

On the occasion, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar stated that the conclave aims to promote cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and ensure the integration of MSMEs across the entire production ecosystem and value chain.

The event was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat.

The National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026, organised by the Department of Defence Production, is centred on the theme of “Advanced Manufacturing Technologies,” according to official information.

Singh also inaugurated an exhibition where 20 major defence companies presented their initiatives to onboard MSMEs as collaborators, suppliers, and innovators.

Additionally, 24 domestic and international firms are showcasing advanced technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, and smart materials.

The initiative is in line with the government’s vision of achieving self-reliance in defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme.

It is expected to boost India’s technological capabilities, enhance its competitiveness at the global level, and encourage companies from non-defence sectors to explore opportunities within defence manufacturing.

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