IAF to hold Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran range for indigenous drone and counter-drone systems

1
The Indian Air Force is organising Dronathon-2026 to let domestic manufacturers demonstrate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) capabilities.
2
It runs from 14 to 16 September 2026 at the Pokhran range, Jaisalmer, with static displays and live demonstrations to evaluate combat effectiveness.
3
Focus areas are surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare, aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat.

●Dronathon-2026: an Indian Air Force event for domestic UAS and counter-UAS manufacturers, held 14-16 September 2026 with static displays and live demonstrations.
●Venue: Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan — also the site of the IAF firepower exercises Vayu Shakti and Gagan Shakti.
●Pokhran is where India conducted its nuclear tests: Smiling Buddha (May 1974) and Pokhran-II/Operation Shakti (five devices, 11 and 13 May 1998).
●Focus areas named by the IAF: surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare.
●C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems): equipment to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones, by jamming, spoofing or kinetic kill.
●Drone Rules, 2021: notified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 25 August 2021; cut the forms an operator files from 25 to 5 and fee types from 72 to 4.
●PLI scheme for drones and drone components: approved 15 September 2021 with a Rs 120 crore outlay over three years from FY 2021-22; incentive is 20% of value addition.
●iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence): launched 12 April 2018, funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organisation, a not-for-profit company floated by HAL and BEL; its ADITI sub-scheme (2024) carries Rs 750 crore.

upsc

GS Paper 3 > Security > Defence Technology and Indigenisation

★Which ministry notified the Drone Rules, 2021, and what was the outlay of the PLI scheme for drones?

Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS)

A system that detects, tracks and neutralises hostile drones through jamming, spoofing or kinetic means.

Swarm technology

Multiple drones operating as a coordinated group under shared autonomy rather than individual piloting.

•Dronathon-2026: IAF, Pokhran range, Jaisalmer, 14-16 September 2026.
•Drone Rules, 2021 — Ministry of Civil Aviation, notified 25 August 2021.
•PLI for drones and drone components — Rs 120 crore over three years, approved 15 September 2021.

•Drone questions usually test the regulator (Civil Aviation, not Defence) and the year, not the event.

Question 1 of 2Score: 0/0

Factual

Current Affairs Pulse