“Collaborating for Security: India’s Strategic Push in Drone and Anti-Drone Technologies”

The advent of drones has redefined the modern battlefield. Their applications — from reconnaissance and logistics to precision strike — have made them indispensable in both defence and civilian domains. Yet, the same innovation has created a new security threat, necessitating the rapid development of anti-drone technologies.

India has responded with a focused and forward-looking strategy: collaborate globally, innovate locally.

Through partnerships between DRDO, Bharat Electronics, private startups, and international defence majors, India is building capabilities in unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and AI-based counter-drone solutions.

Highlighting this strategic direction, Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari notes:

“In the era of drone warfare, collaboration is defence. The nation that builds trusted technology alliances will define tomorrow’s security architecture.”

This philosophy underpins India’s growing engagement with partner nations such as Israel, the US, and France for joint research, co-production, and knowledge exchange. The focus areas include swarm drone management, satellite-linked UAV coordination, and laser-based neutralization systems.

Domestically, the government’s Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP 2020) and the iDEX framework have opened new avenues for startups and MSMEs to co-develop and supply defence-grade drone technologies. These initiatives are not only strengthening India’s security infrastructure but also establishing the country as a hub for advanced aerospace manufacturing.

At the same time, anti-drone systems developed indigenously by DRDO and private industry — featuring radio-frequency detection, GPS spoofing, and high-energy laser interception — have already been deployed for national events and border protection.

As India continues to integrate innovation with collaboration, its defence sector is transitioning from being a technology importer to a co-creator of security systems for the future.

The collaborative revolution in drones and anti-drone technologies represents more than industrial progress — it is a declaration that India’s security, technology, and diplomacy now fly together.