By Srinivas Shekar, CEO and Co-Founder, Pantherun Technologies
Drones may look like machines built of steel and circuitry, but at their core, especially in national defence, they embody trust. Trust in their performance, their protection of data, and their readiness in critical moments.
Today, drones have quietly become part of India’s strategic backbone. They fly across borders, gather intelligence, and in some cases, make life-or-death decisions. But as their role expands, so does a growing discomfort not with the machines themselves, but with where they come from and what’s inside them.
A Quiet Risk Hidden in the Circuitry
Recent assessments have shown that several drones deployed along India’s sensitive borders contain components sourced from countries we don’t always share friendly ties. On paper, there are restrictions. In reality, loopholes remain. Many suppliers self-certify that their drones are free of high-risk foreign parts and there’s often no independent system to double-check that claim.
This isn’t just a technicality. In a connected world, any foreign chip or module is a possible access point. In the worst-case scenario, it’s a door left open for sabotage, data theft, or system failure when we least expect it. That’s not something any nation, especially one facing persistent border threats, can afford to ignore.
Why “Made in India” Has to Mean More Than Assembly
To fix this, the government is working on a comprehensive policy framework, one that tightens controls, standardises quality, and verifies sources. That’s a step in the right direction. But real security doesn’t just come from better paperwork. It comes from knowing fully and deeply what we build. And that brings us to a critical truth: India needs to own its drone technology, end to end.
Not just assemble, but innovate. Not just import and tweak, but design, test, and build from scratch. Only then can we claim real autonomy over the machines we use, the data they collect, and the way we respond to emergencies or attacks.
There’s Strength in Building With Our Own Hands
When drones are built locally, we gain more than just control:
- We become less dependent on external suppliers, especially in moments of diplomatic tension.
- We reduce costs and increase scale, making drone technology accessible beyond the military for disaster relief, agriculture, and law enforcement.
- We build to suit drones that understand our terrain, our weather, our needs.
- And perhaps most importantly, we make our communications safer. A drone built from the ground up can be encrypted and hardened in ways a patchwork import never could.
But We Also Need to Be Honest
India’s current drone capability still rests on imported tech especially in areas like semiconductors and advanced electronics. Shifting to truly indigenous manufacturing will take time, investment, and skilled hands.
But the wheels are turning. Government-led programs are funding innovation. Startups are experimenting with new designs. Researchers are working on locally produced components. And perhaps for the first time, there’s alignment between defence, policy, and industry.At the same time, we’re beginning to think not just about drones but how to counter them, too. That balance between enabling and defending is going to be vital in the future.
A Future That’s Still Ours to Shape
The goal isn’t just about building drones. It’s about building trust in our processes, our people, and our technology.Because in today’s world, it’s not just borders that need protecting. It’s what flies above them. And the only way to truly protect that space is to make sure it’s ours.
