NEW DELHI:
India will launch a $234 million incentive programme for civil and military drone makers to reduce their reliance on imported components and counter rival Pakistan’s programme built on support from China and Turkey, three sources told Reuters.
New Delhi will launch a 20 billion Indian rupees ($234 million) programme for three years that will cover manufacturing of drones, components, software, counter drone systems, and services, two government and one industry source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.
Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40% of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said.
Reuters previously reported that India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on unmanned aerial vehicles over the next 12 to 24 months, in what government and military officers said would be a staggered approach.
