India Must Rapidly Develop Deep-Tech Capability to Maintain Air Superiority: IAF Chief

In a resounding call for indigenous defence innovation, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, declared that the future of combat operations lies in the strategic synthesis of manned aircraft with autonomous unmanned platforms. Delivering the inaugural address at the.

Reflecting on recent global conflicts where unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-drone mechanisms redefined tactical outcomes, Air Chief Marshal Singh highlighted that technological delays carry severe operational costs. “Technology delayed is technology denied,” he remarked, urging private industry, startups and research institutions to scale.

What Happened

To bridge the gap between military operational needs and private industry capabilities, the Indian Air Force has established the Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD). Echoing the Air Chief’s vision, Dr N Ranjana, Director of the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management at DRDO.

• The two-day conclave, themed “Vision to Action: Powering India’s Deep-Tech Future”, brought together senior defence leaders, policymakers, drone industry pioneers, tech startups and academic researchers to chart India’s path toward becoming a global hub.

• The Air Chief announced Dronathon 2026, a nationwide competitive platform designed to evaluate cutting-edge indigenous drone technologies through rigorous live flight demonstrations.

• Supported by India’s expanding ecosystem of over 1.5 lakh startups and 150 unicorns, the drone sector is positioned to become a central driver of national security, economic growth and skilled employment.

Key Details

She urged emerging startups to actively utilise DRDO’s extensive testing infrastructure, technology transfer frameworks and research facilities.

• The conclave concluded with the release of a comprehensive PHDCCI Knowledge Report outlining strategic policy recommendations to accelerate supply-chain self-sufficiency and establish secure airspace architectures as India works toward its long-term Viksit Bharat 2047.

• Raksha Anirveda is a new age print publication (quarterly) with a digital presence.

• PHDCCI leadership, including Civil Aviation Committee Chair Sanjiv Edward and CEO Dr Ranjeet Mehta, noted that the third edition of the conclave represents a decisive shift toward execution.

Why It Matters

He underlined domestic semiconductor and electronics design as pivotal to establishing true self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

• Complementing defence efforts, Dr Panneerselvam Madangopal, CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, highlighted government initiatives such as iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) that empower tech entrepreneurs.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Raksha Anirveda as more details emerge