FILE PHOTO: A view shows Falcon, a surveillance drone, on display at the drone exhibition at Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 organised by the Indian Air Force and Drone Federation of India at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad, India, Sept 25, 2023. India's civil aviation ministry, which is leading the incentives programme, and defence ministry did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment. Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40 percent of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said. "The lesson that we've learned is that we need to double down on our indigenisation efforts to ensure that we build a large, effective, military drone manufacturing ecosystem." Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by an industry source involved in the discussions for the incentives programme.
