India must push for homegrown UAV technology to strengthen defence

For countries like India, indigenous drone manufacturing is critical, especially in light of the need for strategic autonomy and national security challenges, which implies the imperative of technological self-reliance.

The global military UAV market is projected to grow from $11.73billion in 2021 to $30.86billion by 2029. UAVs are becoming crucial for military operations and India must embrace this technology to strengthen its defense strategies while building a robust indigenous supply chain. The goal must be to make UAVs ubiquitous in the Indian military machinery, like rifles or tanks.

UAVs are ideal for high-risk missions. They remove the need to expose soldiers, pilots, and ground personnel to enemy fire or hazardous conditions during surveillance, reconnaissance, or combat missions. UAVs perform these tasks remotely, almost completely eradicating the possible loss of life and reducing resource expenditure.

India can adopt drone technology enabled with high-definition cameras, infrared sensors, and thermal imaging to provide real-time intelligence and accurate targeting without putting humans at risk.

What Makes UAVs special?

While being safer, UAVs are also more cost-effective compared to traditional military assets like fighter jets and surveillance aircraft that cost millions. UAVs need less training and maintenance, thereby costing much less in the short and longer term. Militaries worldwide are exponentially increasing their investments in UAVs due to their ability to deliver value with lower financial commitments.

A 2019 RAND Corporation study showed that drones could improve battlefield awareness by up to 70% significantly improving capabilities in intelligence gathering on troop movements, weapon stockpiles, and insurgent hideouts.

Equipped with high-resolution cameras with thermal imaging capabilities, radar systems, and electronic intelligence tools, UAVs provide persistent, real-time monitoring over vast areas, regardless of terrain or weather conditions. This continuous flow of data and insights enables commanders to make informed decisions more quickly and with higher accuracy, ultimately reducing the risk of surprise attacks or ambushes.

UAV’s precision targeting capabilities and the ability to strike quickly with pinpoint accuracy, make them invaluable, especially in counterinsurgency and anti-militancy operations. In 2020, the Indian Army began deploying drones for surveillance and reconnaissance along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir. These UAVs have helped the military track insurgent movements, thwart infiltration attempts, and maintain real-time surveillance in hostile environments. The continuous monitoring capabilities of drones, even in dense and mountainous regions, reduce the need for physical patrols, lower the risk to soldiers and improve operational effectiveness. Additionally, drones equipped with people and motion detection technology and advanced data analytics can alert for infiltrators and insurgents and even track their movements. This allows security forces to anticipate attacks or plan targeted raids with greater precision. According to data from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, drone strikes in conflict zones like Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia neutralized over 4,000 militants between 2004 and 2020, with fewer civilian casualties than conventional airstrikes.

Why India needs homegrown UAVs?

Given the invaluable benefits of drones in sensitive and high-profile military operations, it is important to produce drones domestically to maintain national security and strategic autonomy. The reliance on imported technologies, particularly from geographies of concern including countries sharing land-border with India, poses significant risks, especially in times of geopolitical tension. Dependence on foreign suppliers for critical sub-systems also exposes the country to potential technology denial or delays in critical equipment as was seen recently in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Indigenous drone manufacturing also aligns with India’s Raksha Aatmanirbharta initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on imports and promote local innovation. By adopting homegrown drone technologies in categories where capabilities already exist or are being built natively in the near term, India can ensure that it has full control over the critical supply chain, including key components such as sensors, communication systems, and navigation tools, and strengthens its position as a global leader in drone technology.

As the world increasingly turns to UAVs to solve complex military challenges, India stands at the forefront of this transformation, driving innovation and safeguarding its future. And by investing in homegrown technologies, India can secure its defense supply chain, reduce its dependence on foreign imports, and drive its position towards becoming a global leader in drone technology.

(Ankit Mehta, CEO, ideaForge.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.