In Brief:
- IAF Chief called for 100% domestic drone production to eliminate foreign supply risks.
- The new Directorate of Aerospace Design will share tech needs directly with startups.
- Live product demos in September to bypass bureaucratic delays.
At the Bharat Drone & Robotics Manthan 3.0 conference, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh called for a fully self-reliant ("Atmanirbhar") drone ecosystem, emphasizing that "every brick should be developed in India" to eliminate foreign supply chain vulnerabilities.
Highlighting that rapid technological evolution leaves no room for bureaucratic delays, the IAF Chief outlined efforts to bridge industry collaboration through the newly established Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), which will directly share operational requirements with startups and innovators.
To accelerate evaluation and reduce reliance on traditional paperwork, the IAF announced Dronathon 2026 for September, inviting domestic developers to showcase live product demonstrations for modern defence needs.
Source: ANI
