Indian Air Force Unmanned Systems Industry Outreach Program
The Indian Air Force conducted an Industry Outreach Programme at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 21, 2026, to engage with stakeholders including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and industry partners. The event was chaired by Air Marshal Premkumar K, VM, VSM, Director General (Weapon Systems) of Air Headquarters, and attracted approximately 100 representatives from various drone companies and affiliated industry partners.
The program served as a formal platform for IAF to articulate its long-term capability requirements and technological priorities in unmanned and autonomous systems, building upon the 'IAF Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Roadmap' released during IAF Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran on September 14, 2026. During the event, IAF distributed its Roadmap booklet to industry partners to provide better understanding of operational requirements.
The roadmap envisions a layered and networked family of unmanned systems, emphasizing the development of operationally relevant, reliable, and resilient indigenous capabilities that complement existing and future manned platforms. IAF emphasized that Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in unmanned systems is an operational necessity rather than merely an aspiration. Critical technology areas identified for focused attention include indigenous propulsion, autonomous software, resilient navigation, and standardized interfaces to reduce dependence on external sources and strengthen the domestic defense ecosystem.
Through sustained engagement with industry, MSMEs, startups, and academia, IAF aims to accelerate innovation, encourage collaborative development, and translate emerging technologies into credible operational capabilities, ultimately building a robust domestic ecosystem capable of supporting India's Atmanirbharta in defense technology.