Indian Air Force To Host Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran in Jailsalmer; Check Dates Here
The Indian Air Force will host Dronathon 2026 at Rajasthan's Pokhran range from September 14 to 16. The event will showcase domestic unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone tech, advancing indigenous defence manufacturing. The IAF will assess capabilities across several critical domains, including surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies, and electronic warfare applications.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is scheduled to host Dronathon 2026 at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, from September 14 to September 16. The three-day event is designed to provide domestic manufacturers, start-ups, and technology developers with a formal platform to showcase unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-drone technologies.
Event Structure and Live Demonstrations
Dronathon-2026 will feature a combination of static displays and rigorous live operational trials. The demonstrations are structured to evaluate the combat effectiveness, technological maturity, and operational readiness of systems developed by the private sector and domestic defence firms. The IAF will assess capabilities across several critical domains, including surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies, and electronic warfare applications. IAF To Build Indigenous Attack Drone Ecosystem, Plans Facility in Tamil Nadu.
Focus on Indigenous Capabilities and Counter-Drone Tech
The initiative aligns with India's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat objective to build self-reliance in military manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign defence imports. By integrating industry stakeholders into a single evaluation framework, the event allows the Air Force to identify technological solutions and operational concepts faster than traditional procurement cycles permit. Counter-drone systems, in particular, have emerged as a high priority for the armed forces following the rapid evolution of aerial threats in modern operational environments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 08, 2026 05:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
