India drone capacity

Non-NATO

Fleet estimate2025

unknown

Not disclosed

Source: IISS Military Balance — operation of Heron/Searcher/Harop confirmed; no consolidated published fleet count ↗

Manufacturer count2025

unknown

Not disclosed

Source: IISS Military Balance — no authoritative count; majors: DRDO, Adani Defence (Adani-Elbit JV), HAL, plus a growing startup base ↗

Defense drone budget (€)2025

unknown

Not disclosed

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database — India total military expenditure ~$86bn (2024, SIPRI; 5th largest globally); no drone-specific budget breakdown ↗

Notable systems2025

high

IAI Heron / Searcher (imported), IAI Harop loitering munition, DRDO Rustom/TAPAS (domestic MALE); MQ-9B SeaGuardian on order

Source: New America, World of Drones — Rustom; full inventory in IISS Military Balance (https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/) ↗

Combat use indicator2025

medium

IAI Harop loitering munitions used in Operation Sindoor (May 2025) against Pakistan; ISR along contested borders

Source: Al Jazeera, India-Pakistan drone war / IISS Military Balance (https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/) ↗

Export status2025

low

Emerging / limited exporter

Source: IISS Military Balance ↗

Indigenous production2025

high

Yes — DRDO (Rustom/TAPAS), Adani-Elbit (Hermes JV, Hyderabad); growing ecosystem

Source: New America, World of Drones — Rustom developed; IISS Military Balance (https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/) ↗

Metrics not listed above are not yet assessed for India — distinct from “Not disclosed”, which means a metric was assessed but no figure is published.

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