Drones: India's Battle for Control and Indigenous Manufacturing Amidst Global Dependence

• Drones are central to modern warfare, with low-cost UAVs reshaping battlefield dynamics and straining air defense systems.
• Post-Operation Sindoor, Indian Armed Forces are rapidly integrating drones across all units, from infantry to artillery.
• A major vulnerability is India's reliance on imported drone components, many tracing back to foreign players, including China.
• An incident near the Pakistan border highlighted the risk of Chinese-made autopilot systems, prompting a formal framework for indigenous manufacturing.
• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh emphasizes the need for India to become a global hub for indigenous drone production, with every component made domestically.