India will launch an incentive program of $ 234 million for manufacturers of civil and military drones to reduce their dependence on the imported components and the Pakistan program against rival based on the support of China and Turkiye, three sources said. Reuters.
The military confrontation between India and Pakistan occurred when the old blamed Islamabad for Pahalgam’s attack. On the night of May 6 to 7, New Delhi launched a series of air attacks in Pakistan, which resulted in civilian casualties. Both parts later exchanged missiles, which extended during the week. American intervention was needed for both parties to finally drop their weapons.
The neighbors of nuclear weapons are now locked in a drone arms race.
Nueva Delhi will launch a program of 20 billion Indian rupees ($ 234 million) for three years that will cover the manufacture of drones, components, software, counter-rone systems and services, two governmental ones and a source of the industry, which did not want to be named, A said, said A said Reuters.
The details of the program have not been previously informed and its planned expense is higher than the modest scheme of production incentives of Indian rupees of 1.2bn that New Delhi was launched in 2021 to promote new drone companies, which have fought to collect capital and invest in investigations.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, which leads the incentive program, and the Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to the emails looking for comments.
Reuters He previously reported that India plans to invest a lot in the local industry and could spend up to $ 470 million in aerial vehicles not crew during the next 12 to 24 months, in which according to the Government and the military officers would be a stepped approach.
In the past, India has mainly imported military drones of its third largest arms supplier, Israel, but in recent years its nascent drone industry has expanded its profitable offers, even for the military, although China’s agency continues for certain components, such as engines, sensors and image systems.
Through the incentives, India aims to have at least 40 percent of the key components of drones made in the country at the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said.
“During the conflict of (the India-Pakistan) there was enough use of drones, kamikaze ammunition and drones on both sides,” said Indian Secretary of Defense, Rajesh Kumar Singh, last week.
“The lesson we have learned is that we need to double our indigenization efforts to ensure that we build an ecosystem of manufacturing large and effective military drones.”
India prohibits the importation of drones, but not its components and the government has planned additional incentives for manufacturers who obtain pieces from within the country, the two sources of the government said.
The Development Bank of the small state industries of India would also support the incentive program by providing cheap loans for working capital, research and development needs for companies, added government sources.
Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing companies and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by a source of the industry involved in the incentive program for discussions for the incentive program.
