The NDTV Defence Summit 2026, held on 27 September in New Delhi, convened a panel of leaders from industry and the armed forces to chart India’s path to indigenously built drones and AI‑driven warfare systems. Bodhisattva Sanghapriya, a veteran in the drone sector, said the country has “enough engineers, startups and money” but “speed” remains the bottleneck. He warned that after the US‑Iran war, the demand has shifted from surveillance to long‑range, deep‑strike platforms.
Sanghapriya noted that IG Defence has already begun work on a 1,000‑km drone capable of carrying a 50‑kg warhead and autonomous operation.
Arvind Lakshmikumar of Tonbo Imaging stressed that as missiles shrink, sensors must also shrink. He said a “large and expensive missile” can carry a costly sensor, but the same sensor is impractical on a cheap loitering munition. Companies must therefore innovate lighter, cheaper, low‑power sensors that fit smaller platforms.
Brigadier Devasheesh Chowdhury highlighted the need for counter‑drone systems that can repeatedly neutralize hostile UAVs. He said a single kill proves the tech works, but sustained success proves operational readiness. With drone warfare evolving rapidly, India cannot wait for foreign solutions.
Veddika Dalmia of Hyperscale added that modern camouflage must also defeat thermal and infrared sensors. She said Hyperscale is developing a signal‑control technology that can mask the signatures of vehicles, bunkers and other platforms. The same tech can be applied to both moving and stationary assets.
Rear Admiral R Sreenivas pointed out that Indian firms are moving from component manufacturing to full system development. He cited Bondada’s work linking satellite and airborne platforms and urged startups to engage directly with soldiers for rapid feedback. The Defence Ministry should encourage such collaborations to keep pace with the changing battlefield.