IAF to host Dronathon-2026 in Jaisalmer to showcase indigenous drone, counter-drone capabilities

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will organise Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer from September 14 to 16, as it seeks to provide domestic manufacturers and innovators a platform to showcase advances in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-unmanned aerial systems (CUAS). 

The three-day event will feature static displays and live demonstrations, allowing stakeholders to assess emerging drone and counter-drone technologies and evaluate their operational and combat effectiveness. 

Key areas of focus at the event will include surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies, and electronic warfare. 

According to the IAF, Dronathon-2026 is aimed at facilitating interaction and mutual learning among the armed forces, industry, start-ups and technology innovators. The initiative is also aligned with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat push to strengthen India's indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. 

The IAF said the event will help identify contemporary technological solutions and assess their suitability for the evolving operational environment. “Through such initiatives, the IAF remains committed to building a technologically advanced, indigenous and future-ready force capable of meeting security challenges in the rapidly changing operational environment,” the force said. 

The IAF's focus on unmanned technologies comes amid increasing private-sector investment in India's drone and autonomous aviation ecosystem. 

Bengaluru-based aerospace start-up Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A funding round led by Greenoaks, as it looks to scale its autonomous aircraft technology and expand commercial drone deliveries across India. 

The funding round also saw participation from new and existing investors, including DoorDash, Lachy Groom, Lightspeed and Humba Ventures. 

With the latest fundraise, Airbound has raised nearly $50 million since its launch in 2023. The company had raised $8.65 million in its initial seed round less than a year ago. 

The fresh capital will be deployed towards engineering, commercial-scale manufacturing and go-to-market initiatives as the start-up seeks to expand its operations. 

Airbound eyes larger autonomous aircraft 

For founder and CEO Naman Pushp, however, the company's ambitions extend beyond developing delivery drones. The start-up believes the autonomous aircraft technology it has developed at a smaller scale could eventually be adapted to build significantly larger aircraft. 

The development highlights the growing interest in autonomous aviation and unmanned systems in India, with defence requirements and commercial applications emerging as key drivers of investment and technological development. 

As the IAF evaluates next-generation UAS and CUAS capabilities through initiatives such as Dronathon-2026, the growing presence of domestic start-ups and technology companies could play a larger role in building India's indigenous unmanned systems ecosystem.