Unmanned Systems · India

Who flies, builds and buys India's drones?

A living map of India's unmanned aerial systems — 131 platforms, 90 companies, ₹44,763 crore of disclosed procurement across 55 operators, and the components, import dependencies, opportunity surfaces and manufacturing playbooks beneath them. The free surface of Techadyant's drone research programme. Free to browse.

131 platforms90 companies (68 Indian)₹44,763 cr procured · 125 contracts100 opportunitiesupdated 2026-07-15

India flies and assembles more drones than it builds. Across 131 platforms and 90 companies, integration and operations are increasingly Indian — but propulsion, sensors, flight electronics and cells still come from abroad. This is the free, living map of that ecosystem, drawn from our drone research programme.

Platforms by class

Who operates India's drones

Indian Army — Aviation Corps 79Indian Air Force — 31 Squadron / UAV wing 61GeM (Government e-Marketplace) 31Indian Navy 27Border Security Force (BSF) 19Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) 16Survey of India 16Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 13

The research behind this map

The free surface of Techadyant's drone research programme — nine deep-dive reports on the industrial base beneath India's drone ambitions.

Deep dive: Who Builds India’s Drones? →Deep dive: India’s Unmanned Warfare Transformation →Deep dive: The SME Playbook for India’s Drone Economy →

Questions

Frequently asked

Which companies build drones in India?

The Atlas tracks 90 companies across India's UAS ecosystem, of which 68 are Indian — OEMs, component makers and suppliers — filterable in the Companies tab with profiles, products and certifications.

How much has India spent on drone procurement?

Disclosed contracts total ₹44,763 crore across 55 operators, led by the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. The Procurement Intelligence tab shows spend by year and by buyer.

What drone components does India import?

Propulsion, sensors, flight electronics and battery cells are still largely imported. The Component Sovereignty Index rates 6 components as Critical import dependencies, scored against Chinese capability.

How do you get a drone certified in India?

Register for a UIN on DGCA Digital Sky, then obtain type certification through the QCI/NTH scheme (NTH Ghaziabad, ~₹1.5 lakh, 3–6 months), with EMI/environmental testing; defence platforms use CEMILAC airworthiness. The full pathway is on the Regulation tab.

What are the biggest drone business opportunities in India?

The Atlas scores 100 opportunities on the DOSF framework, with 20 rated Build-now — led by autonomy software, counter-UAS and battery/BMS. The Playbook tab covers how to build each venture type.

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