Indian Air Force to hold dialogue program with defense industry on roadmap for development of unmanned and autonomous systems on 21 October 2026.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has drafted a comprehensive roadmap aimed at rapidly enhancing its capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and autonomous systems. Under this plan, the IAF intends to develop, test, and deploy more than 50 new autonomous systems over the next five years, including advanced UAVs for ground support, surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics.

To formally unveil this roadmap, a dialogue event with the defense industry will be held on 21 October. The event will feature senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, senior IAF officers, and representatives from leading defense manufacturers and research institutions. The purpose of the program is to enhance synergy between policy‑making, research and development (R&D), and production capabilities. Experts in the defense industry believe that autonomous systems will not only increase operational efficiency but also reduce the burden on human resources.

The Ministry of Defence has described this initiative as a significant step in terms of national security and technological self‑reliance. The 2024 Defence Policy document had already highlighted the strategic importance of unmanned aerial vehicles, and now the IAF has presented a concrete action plan in this direction. During the event, both parties will discuss technology transfer, joint testing protocols, and future procurement plans. This dialogue will accelerate the development of new autonomous technologies for the Indian defence industry and provide a competitive edge, thereby further strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.