Indian Air Force Launches Dronathon-2026 to Advance Unmanned Systems

On September 14, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) kicked off its inaugural 'Dronathon-2026' at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer. This three-day event serves as a strategic initiative to foster direct collaboration between the military and India’s growing unmanned systems industry. By bringing together over 20 leading defense companies, start-ups, MSMEs, and public sector undertakings, the IAF aims to transition from mere technology demonstration to achieving tangible operational effects. During the event, participating innovators are demonstrating a wide array of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including those designed for autonomous operations, swarm intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. A critical component of the event is the assessment of these systems for reliability in demanding, contested environments. Furthermore, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit released the 'IAF UAS Roadmap,' which provides essential guidance to the domestic industry regarding the Air Force’s future capability priorities. This initiative is designed to ensure that research and development in academia and industry are perfectly aligned with the evolving operational requirements of the national defense sector, ultimately enhancing the IAF's reach and flexibility.