The Indian Air Force held Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran from 14 to 16 September. More than 20 leading defence companies, startups, MSMEs, DPSUs and innovators took part, showing indigenous unmanned systems under realistic operational conditions.
One highlighted system, Vayu UTtaM, detected and tracked both military and civil unmanned aircraft in live trials. The event is meant to help industry, academia and research organisations align their work with the IAF’s future requirements, and reinforces the push for self-reliance in unmanned systems.
Defence demand is now a major growth driver for Indian drone makers. Commentators note that domestic military demand is large enough to matter, though building a full export industry will depend on fixing component dependence.
What it means for RPTOs and pilots: Defence and security drone programmes create demand for advanced skills such as payload operation, data handling and counter-drone awareness.
Sources: Indian Defence News (Sep 2026); Indrastra (Sep 2026).
