Key facts
- India plans to order $2 billion worth of homegrown drones.
- The orders are intended to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities.
- Recent hostilities with Pakistan highlighted the importance of drones.
India is reportedly preparing to place substantial orders for drones manufactured within the country, totaling approximately $2 billion. This initiative is driven by the nation's military planning, which has been significantly influenced by recent conflicts, particularly with Pakistan, where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) saw extensive deployment. The large-scale use of drones in these hostilities has underscored the critical need for India to enhance its own capabilities in this domain. The planned procurement aims to bolster domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance in the defense sector.