Kathmandu. India’s military drone industry is expanding rapidly and Indian drone exports will increase manifold in the near future, according to international media. As part of its strategy to increase self-sufficiency in defence production, India has increased huge investments in unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) and advanced defense technology.

According to a recent report, Indian private and public defense companies are rapidly increasing the production of various types of drones used for surveillance, border security, war management and maritime surveillance. The Government of India has given priority to indigenous drone production under the ‘Make in India’ and Defence Modernization Programme.

The export market is expected to expand especially after some countries in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East started showing interest in Indian drones. According to reports, India is currently developing advanced drone systems for border surveillance, counter-terrorism and tactical use. This will help establish India as a defence technology exporter and not just an importer.

The expansion of India’s drone industry has been linked to border tensions with China, strategic competition in the Indian Ocean region and the need for modern warfare systems. In recent years, India has been significantly increasing its domestic defence production and exports.

India’s growing defence technology capability in South Asia is a matter of concern for Nepal as well as its neighbors. Analysts say that its impact could be seen in the future in the areas of border security, disaster management and technology cooperation.