Jaisalmer: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun its first-ever Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, with the three-day event running from September 14 to 16 to evaluate emerging indigenous drones, counter-drone systems and other unmanned technologies for future warfare.
Organised under the Ministry of Defence, Dronathon brings together more than 60 defence companies, start-ups and technology innovators to demonstrate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). The event includes both static displays and live demonstrations designed to allow the IAF to assess contemporary technologies and their operational and combat effectiveness.
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The demonstrations will focus on surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare—capabilities that are increasingly shaping modern battlefields. The objective is not merely to display products but to identify technologies that can meet operational requirements and potentially transition towards military deployment.
A key highlight of the opening ceremony is the release of the IAF Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Roadmap by Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. The roadmap is expected to provide direction for the Air Force’s future development and integration of unmanned and autonomous capabilities.
The timing is significant. Recent conflicts have demonstrated how inexpensive drones, one-way attack UAVs, autonomous systems and counter-UAS technologies can influence battlefield surveillance, precision attacks and force protection. India’s own experience during Operation Sindoor has further intensified the focus on both offensive unmanned systems and the ability to detect and neutralise hostile drones.
For the Indian defence industry, Dronathon also represents a shift from prototype development towards operational validation. By placing systems in a military testing environment, the IAF can identify practical gaps, assess performance and provide industry with clearer understanding of battlefield requirements.
The initiative fits into the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat push to build an indigenous unmanned-warfare ecosystem involving established defence companies, start-ups and deep-tech innovators. For India, developing both drones and counter-drone technologies domestically will be increasingly important as unmanned warfare becomes a permanent component of air and ground operations.
Dronathon-2026 therefore goes beyond a conventional defence exhibition: it gives the IAF an opportunity to scan India’s rapidly expanding unmanned technology ecosystem, test what actually works under operational conditions and accelerate the induction of future-ready indigenous capabilities.
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