The Indian Air Force on October 21 held a stakeholder interaction at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi to disseminate its Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Roadmap to industry, in partnership with Drone Federation India (DFI), ANI reported.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

The workshop brought together senior IAF and Ministry of Defence officials, DFI president Smit Shah and over 100 senior defence-industry professionals, along with startups, academia and research institutions, according to the release cited by ANI and Defence Watch.

16 platform families, four tiers

First launched at the IAF's Dronathon in September 2026, the roadmap sets out future requirements across 16 platform families in four tiers — Strategic, Operational, Tactical, and Distributed/Attritable. Autonomy, manned-unmanned teaming and swarm operations are identified as defining features of future air campaigns.

Air Marshal Premkumar Krishnaswamy, Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air Headquarters, said: "The IAF has been at the forefront of unmanned systems in India, and we intend to remain there as air power moves toward autonomy and swarm operations. By stating our requirements plainly, we want to enable focused development and the timely induction of critical technologies."

Air Vice Marshal Ashish Kumar, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations – Remote), said unmanned and autonomous systems are becoming central to how air operations are planned and conducted, and that early clarity helps industry build systems that are relevant and reliable. DFI president Smit Shah said the engagement gives industry, startups and academia long-term visibility to invest with confidence and build indigenous capabilities.

Industry participants will receive a copy of the roadmap after verification through a structured process including formal undertakings and non-disclosure agreements, the release said. The roadmap is a statement of requirements, not a procurement order — no platform-wise orders, funding or induction timelines were announced at the workshop.