200+ manufacturers making defence drones
The Indian drone industry could grow from Rs.5,720 crore in 2025-26 to around Rs.97,300 crore by 2030-31, with the component market targeted at USD3.08 billion, Drone Federation India (DFI).
“Some critical parts and materials, such as magnets, cells and chips, are still imported, and China’s export controls on drone parts, rare earth magnets and autopilots since September 2024 show why deeper localisation matters,” DFI projected the market on 14 Nov at the opening of Bharat Drone Stack Conference 2026 in Bangalore.
DFI President Smit Shah elaborated, “India has done the first half of the job. More than 160 drone models now hold type certificates, and more than 200 manufacturers are building defence drones of various categories. But a drone is only as Indian as the parts inside it, and any single source for a flight-critical part is a risk, because supply can be cut overnight.”
The conference is part of Bharat Drone Stack, DFI’s initiative for self-reliance in drone components, launched in August 2025. From about 100 suppliers identified at launch, the Bharat Drone Stack Platform now lists 208, including 83 startups. Its Breakdown maps a drone into 11 categories, 62 subsystems, 243 parts and 52 raw materials, showing where India can build next.
More than 80 Indian component exhibitors participated in the conference, making it India’s largest drone component event. It was attended by about 3,000 delegates and key dignitaries including Lieutenant General Shamsher Singh Virk, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (CD&S), Air Marshal Samir Jayasinha Pendse, Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command, IAF, and Dr Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director, CSIR‑NAL. The conference also hosted 10 thematic sessions with industry leaders and senior officials from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, DRDO and national labs.
The dignitaries released DFI’s whitepaper, Making the Swadeshi Switch, with 22 policy recommendations, such as Indian content norms for defence and civil drones, targeted support for component makers, and testing and certification of components in India. DFI will take the recommendations to the concerned ministries and agencies, and review progress at the next edition in 2027. Fiinews.com
