New Delhi | The military leaders, defence experts, policymakers and private industry representatives will gather here on July 16 seeking to develop a "strategic roadmap" for indigenisation, with an over-arching aim to reduce dependency on foreign companies for critical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) components, a statement issued on Tuesday said.
The workshop-cum-exhibition to be hosted by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in collaboration with the think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) comes in the "backdrop of recent India-Pakistan hostilities, including Operation Sindoor", which highlighted the strategic importance and operational effectiveness of UAVs and C-UAS, the Defence Ministry said.
These systems played a vital role in enhancing situational awareness, enabling precision targeting and reducing risks to human personnel, demonstrating the maturity, dependability and value of India's indigenous defence technologies during real-time operations, it said.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan will be the chief guest at the event 'Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS' to be hosted at the Manekshaw Centre.
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will deliver the closing address, summarising the deliberations and presenting the expected outcome, "a strategic policy document focused on the indigenisation of UAV and C-UAS systems and their critical sub-components", it said in a statement.
"Recognising the importance of reducing the dependency on OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for critical UAV and C-UAS components, the upcoming workshop-cum-exhibition aims to bring together all relevant stakeholders, including defence experts, policymakers, military leaders, scientists, and private industry, to develop a strategic roadmap for indigenisation," the ministry said.
The event, a significant push toward achieving self-reliance in defence technologies, is expected to serve as a catalyst for innovation, knowledge sharing, and long-term capability building in unmanned systems, it said.
The initiative aligns with India's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to bolster national security, enhance defence preparedness and transform India into a global hub for advanced military technologies.
