Partnerships: Why India Must Rethink Military Drone Procurement
India’s reported plan to procure nearly $2 billion worth of drones from domestic manufacturers marks a significant milestone in the country’s defense modernization journey. More importantly, it signals a deeper transformation in military thinking—one that recognizes the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare.
For decades, military procurement was centered around acquiring expensive and highly sophisticated platforms such as fighter aircraft, tanks, submarines, and artillery systems. These assets were expected to remain operational and relevant for decades. However, the rapid evolution of drone technology is challenging these traditional assumptions.
Unlike fighter jets that remain effective for decades with periodic upgrades, tactical drones can become obsolete within a few years—or even months—due to advancements in electronic warfare, communication systems, and battlefield tactics. Consequently, the real challenge is no longer merely acquiring drones but ensuring that they remain effective in an increasingly dynamic threat environment.
As India seeks to strengthen its indigenous defense ecosystem under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, policymakers must move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationships and adopt a partnership-based procurement model that prioritizes innovation, adaptability, and long-term capability development.
The Rise of Drones in Modern Warfare
The role of drones in warfare has evolved dramatically over the last two decades.
Initially, military attention focused on large Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) such as the American MQ-9 Reaper or the Turkish Bayraktar TB-2. These platforms offered surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities without risking pilot lives.
However, recent conflicts have fundamentally altered perceptions about military drones.
The Russia-Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East, and drone operations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States have demonstrated that smaller, cheaper drones often deliver disproportionate battlefield advantages. Instead of relying solely on expensive platforms, militaries are increasingly deploying large numbers of low-cost drones capable of surveillance, target acquisition, electronic warfare, and precision strikes.
The result is a shift from quality-centric warfare to quantity-enabled precision warfare.
A drone costing a few hundred or thousand dollars can destroy military assets worth millions. This economic asymmetry has transformed drones into one of the most disruptive technologies in contemporary warfare.
The Economics of Attritabel Warfare
One of the defining characteristics of modern drone warfare is the concept of attritabelity.
Traditional military platforms are designed to survive. Drones, especially tactical and first-person-view (FPV) systems, are often designed with the expectation that many will be lost during operations.
This changes procurement economics significantly.
For example:
- A modern fighter aircraft may cost over $100 million.
- A main battle tank can cost several million dollars.
- A tactical FPV drone may cost only a few hundred dollars.
Recent conflicts have repeatedly demonstrated that destroying a low-cost drone often requires expensive missile systems or sophisticated electronic warfare equipment. This creates a favorable cost-benefit ratio for drone operators.
Ukraine’s extensive use of FPV drones fitted with explosives has become a defining feature of the ongoing conflict. Commercial drones originally designed for photography and recreation have been modified for battlefield use at a fraction of the cost of conventional weapon systems.
These developments suggest that future military success may depend less on acquiring a small number of sophisticated systems and more on producing and deploying large numbers of adaptable, low-cost drones.
Lessons from Global Drone Ecosystems
Countries leading the drone revolution have not achieved success solely through government procurement.
China offers perhaps the most notable example.
The country’s drone industry has grown through close collaboration between universities, private industry, research institutions, and the military. Innovations developed for commercial applications frequently find military uses, while defence requirements often stimulate civilian technological advancement.
This civil-military fusion model has enabled rapid innovation cycles, lower production costs, and continuous technological improvements.
Similarly, Ukraine’s wartime drone ecosystem has demonstrated the value of agile innovation. Engineers, start-ups, military personnel, and volunteer groups collaborate directly to develop solutions tailored to evolving battlefield conditions.
Rather than waiting years for formal procurement processes, modifications can be introduced within weeks.
The key lesson is clear: drone superiority increasingly depends on innovation ecosystems rather than procurement budgets alone.
Why Traditional Procurement Models Are Becoming Obsolete
India’s conventional defence acquisition processes were designed for an era dominated by long-life military platforms.
The acquisition of fighter jets, tanks, naval vessels, and missile systems typically involves:
- Detailed technical evaluations
- Extensive testing procedures
- Multi-year procurement cycles
- Long-term operational timelines
Such systems often remain relevant for twenty to forty years.
Drones operate in a completely different environment.
Electronic warfare systems evolve rapidly. Communication frequencies can be jammed. Navigation systems can be spoofed. Software vulnerabilities can be exploited.
Experts estimate that adversaries can adapt electronic warfare measures against newly deployed drones within weeks. As a result, a drone purchased today may require significant modifications within months.
The challenge is therefore not simply acquisition but continuous adaptation.
A procurement system built around lengthy approval processes may struggle to keep pace with technological change.
India’s Existing Reforms: A Step in the Right Direction
India has already recognized some of these challenges.
Recent defence acquisition reforms include provisions that allow the armed forces to procure Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) systems. This enables military units to acquire commercially available drone technologies when operationally suitable.
The draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) also includes mechanisms intended to simplify upgrades and modifications.
Similarly, the Defence Procurement Manual provides financial flexibility for unforeseen maintenance, repairs, and capability enhancements.
These reforms acknowledge the need for agility.
However, they do not fully address the deeper structural issue: the transactional nature of defence procurement.
Why India Needs Drone Partnerships, Not Drone Purchases
Traditional procurement follows a simple logic.
The military identifies a requirement, issues a tender, selects a vendor, purchases a product, and receives delivery.
This approach works reasonably well when products remain relevant for decades.
Drone technology, however, evolves too rapidly for this model.
Instead, India should consider adopting a partnership-based framework that resembles managed service contracts used in the private sector.
Under such arrangements, manufacturers would not merely supply drones; they would provide:
- Continuous software updates
- Hardware modifications
- Electronic warfare countermeasures
- Maintenance support
- Replacement systems
- Production surge capabilities during conflicts
The focus would shift from purchasing equipment to maintaining operational capability.
This approach creates incentives for manufacturers to continuously innovate while providing the armed forces with adaptable systems that evolve alongside emerging threats.
Strategic Benefits of Long-Term Partnerships
A partnership-based procurement model offers several advantages.
- Continuous Innovation
Manufacturers remain engaged throughout the lifecycle of the system, enabling rapid upgrades and improvements.
- Enhanced Battlefield Relevance
Drone capabilities can be adapted to changing operational requirements without initiating entirely new procurement processes.
- Predictable Industrial Growth
Long-term contracts provide demand certainty, encouraging private investment in research and development.
- Stronger Domestic Ecosystem
Closer collaboration between industry, academia, start-ups, and the armed forces can accelerate innovation and technological self-reliance.
- Wartime Production Capacity
Partnerships can establish mechanisms for rapidly scaling production during emergencies and conflicts.
Building an Atmanirbhar Drone Future
India’s domestic drone industry has matured considerably over the past decade.
Government initiatives such as the Drone Rules 2021, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for drones, and increased defence procurement from domestic manufacturers have created favorable conditions for growth.
Indian companies are increasingly capable of designing and manufacturing advanced surveillance drones, logistics drones, swarm systems, and tactical battlefield platforms.
The proposed $2 billion procurement initiative reflects growing confidence in indigenous capabilities.
However, financial investment alone will not guarantee success.
The future of military drone effectiveness will depend on how effectively India creates systems that support continuous innovation, rapid adaptation, and close collaboration between users and manufacturers.
Conclusion
The age of drone warfare is fundamentally changing how militaries think about procurement. In an environment where technology evolves at unprecedented speed, the traditional model of purchasing equipment and expecting decades of relevance is becoming increasingly outdated.
India’s planned investment in domestic drone manufacturing is an important step toward strengthening national security and achieving defence self-reliance. Yet the greater opportunity lies in transforming procurement itself.
By moving from transactional purchases to long-term strategic partnerships, India can ensure that its drones remain adaptable, effective, and technologically relevant in future conflicts. Such an approach would not only strengthen military readiness but also accelerate the growth of a globally competitive domestic drone ecosystem.
The real measure of success will not be the number of drones India buys, but how effectively it creates a system capable of continuously evolving alongside the changing nature of warfare.
Sources Referred:
- Ministry of Defence, Government of India – https://mod.gov.in
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) – https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/
- Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) – https://capssindia.org
- Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) – https://www.rusi.org
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