Abstract
This article explores India’s evolving strategies in innovation management in its quest to achieve sustainable indigenisation in autonomous drone systems, thereby positioning the country as a key global player in defence technology. In the modern warfare, autonomous drones have become indispensable for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes, thus making their domestic development a strategic imperative for India’s self-reliance. As in early 2026, this study highlights how India’s defence sector is undergoing a transformative shift. It is being driven by a confluence of government policies, startup ingenuity, and private sector investments. Notably, all underscored by a commitment to sustainability. We analyse the multifaceted innovation management frameworks at work. These include the integration of advanced AI, novel materials such as multispectral stealth composites, and additive manufacturing techniques. Through the recent case studies of indigenous successes in swarm drones, counter-drone systems, and high-altitude platforms, this article establishes how these efforts have translated towards fostering a resilient defence eco-system. Acknowledging persistent challenges, such as subsystem dependency and funding gaps, an endeavour is being made to outline a futuristic roadmap to 2030 and beyond. Finally, this analysis suggests that effective innovation management will secure India’s strategic future, moving it from a net importer to a leading innovator of unmanned military systems.
Keywords: Innovation Management, Autonomous Drone Systems, Sustainable Indigenisation, Additive Manufacturing, Human-AI Teaming
