IAF Dronathon 2026 Showcases India\'s Indigenous Drone Technology

The Indian Air Force's Dronathon-2026 is showcasing developments in unmanned and counter-unmanned systems at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.

The three-day event, running from September 14 to 16, brings together defence companies, start-ups, MSMEs, public-sector organisations and technology innovators working on unmanned systems.

One of the demonstrations involved Vayu UTtaM, an indigenous unmanned traffic-management system. The system is designed to support the management of unmanned aerial systems operating in complex airspace environments.

The event comes at a time when drone technology is increasingly being considered for surveillance, logistics, communications and defence applications. India's domestic drone ecosystem has also expanded in recent years, with start-ups and established defence companies developing locally produced systems.

Dronathon provides an opportunity for the armed forces and technology companies to demonstrate capabilities and identify areas where new unmanned technologies could be integrated into future operations.