New Delhi. As the character of warfare undergoes a decisive transformation, India is accelerating its preparedness for a future defined not just by firepower, but by scale, speed, and technological adaptability.
Senior military leadership has repeatedly underscored the urgency of this shift. Former Army Chief General M M Naravane recently highlighted that future conflicts could require up to 40,000 drones a month, while Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, in a recent briefing, emphasised the need for 8,000–10,000 UAVs per corps, including FPV units, to effectively dominate contested airspace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).
Amid this evolving doctrine, a quiet but significant capability has been taking shape within India’s domestic defence ecosystem. IG Defence, an indigenous drone technology company that deployed its kamikaze FPV Kamikaze Drones during Operation Sindoor and was appreciated by the Government of India in a PIB release, has scaled its manufacturing capacity to 200 First-Person View (FPV) drones per day — a move that aligns with the operational realities of high-volume, technology-driven warfare.
A year ago, Operation Sindoor stood as a defining moment of clarity and resolve. In a time that tested the nation, India responded with precision, purpose and unity, delivering a decisive stand against terrorism and IG Defence stood by the nation by delivering FPV Kamikaze drones and appreciated in official PIB Release by Government of India.
Unlike conventional defence systems that require long development cycles and significant capital investment, FPV Kamikaze Drones represent a new category of agile, cost-effective battlefield tools. Their growing prominence in global conflicts has demonstrated how low-cost, high-impact systems including swarm drones and loitering munitions are reshaping tactical engagements.
This shift is not merely technological; it reflects a broader doctrinal evolution. Modern warfare is increasingly systems-driven and volume-led, where the ability to deploy large numbers of intelligent, adaptable platforms can influence outcomes on the ground in real time.
Within this context, IG Defence has emerged as one of the key domestic contributors to India’s expanding unmanned capabilities. The company has supplied thousands of FPV Kamikaze Drones to the Indian Army over the past financial year, supporting the armed forces’ growing emphasis on indigenous and rapidly deployable solutions.
Offering a strategic perspective, Maj Gen R C Padhi (Retd.), Senior Vice President at IG Defence, noted, “The character of warfare is changing faster than ever before. We are witnessing a transition from platform-centric warfare to systems-driven, volume-led engagements. FPV Kamikaze Drones enable tactical dominance at a fraction of traditional costs, and their large-scale deployment will be central to future combat readiness.”
He further emphasised that indigenous production and rapid scalability are no longer optional, but critical to national security.
Often referred to as “kamikaze drones,” FPV striker systems combine real-time targeting, high manoeuvrability, and cost efficiency. Their ability to perform precision strikes and support surveillance missions makes them particularly suited for asymmetric warfare and dynamic combat scenarios.
India’s push toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing, coupled with increased investments in the domestic drone ecosystem, has created an enabling environment for such capabilities to scale.
As militaries across the world adapt to drone-led warfare paradigms, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: the ability to produce and deploy drones at scale is no longer a strategic advantage alone — it is a necessity.
In that transition, India’s emerging indigenous capabilities may well define how prepared the nation is for the conflicts of tomorrow.
