NewzVille Desk
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, inaugurated the first Indian Air Force Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, today. The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior functionaries of MoD, HQ IDS and representatives from Indian Army, and BSF.
Dronathon-2026 is an IAF initiative aimed at engaging directly with the Indian unmanned systems industry and assessing emerging technologies under realistic operational conditions.
The three-day event, planned from 14 to 16 September 2026, brings together over 20 leading defence companies, start-ups MSMEs, DPSUs and innovators from India’s rapidly evolving unmanned systems ecosystem.
The IAF views unmanned systems as an important complement to manned aviation providing commanders with additional options to enhance the reach, persistence responsiveness and flexibility of air operations During the Dronathon, participating companies and innovators will demonstrate their Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and associated technologies at the Pokhran range.
