The Indian Army is planning to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth approximately ₹16,000 crore over the next two years, according to sources reported by Zee Business. This procurement represents one of the biggest defence procurement drives in the domestic defence space and is expected to be executed under the fast track purchase route. The value of each fast track procurement is capped at ₹2,000 crore, meaning the Army may need around eight to nine FTP lots to complete the full acquisition. The initiative aligns with India's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat mission to reduce defence import dependency and build a robust domestic industrial base.
Bharat Forge, L&T Defence, Tata Advanced Systems and Zen Technologies are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of this proposed defence procurement drive. The procurement is likely to include EW-hardened technology, RF jamming capability, GPS jamming capability, long-, medium- and short-range drones, surveillance drones, and attack drones. As reported by Zee Business, queries sent to the Ministry of Defence, Bharat Forge, Tata Advanced Systems, L&T Defence and Zen Technologies remained unanswered at the time of publication.
The procurement reflects the Indian Army's increasing integration of drones into its core warfighting structure, with infantry, artillery, armoured corps and air defence being brought into the drone ecosystem. According to sources reported by Zee Business, the emphasis is on systems that can survive in contested electronic environments, where jamming and counter-jamming have become as important as the drone platform itself. Drones are no longer viewed as supporting add-ons but as crucial battlefield capabilities central to surveillance, strike and counter-drone operations in modern warfare. This strategic shift supports India's broader defence modernisation goals under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, which aims to transition the country from a 'manufacturing hub' to a 'technology owner'.
The procurement push reflects the Indian Army's broader operational learning after Operation Sindoor, which appears to have accelerated the services' interest in unmanned systems, counter-unmanned systems and electronic warfare. As reported by Zee Business, official and defence ecosystem references have repeatedly underlined that the Indian Armed Forces are now prioritising drones for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, precision attack and force protection. The Corps of Army Air Defence remains an active combat support arm and is playing a growing role in the drone warfare era. The operational experience has reinforced the need for advanced drone capabilities across all military branches.
For the infantry, the Army is looking at medium-range, long-range and high-altitude drones. Artillery is expected to buy medium- to large-range drones as well as high-altitude platforms. Armoured units are likely to go for medium- and short-range drones, while Army Air Defence is expected to buy all three categories, including high-altitude-capable systems. This comprehensive approach ensures drone capabilities across all operational units and environments. The procurement strategy supports India's goal of achieving sustained equipment readiness of 85-90% to guarantee military success in future conflicts.
