New Delhi: The Indian Army has released its first comprehensive technology roadmap for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and munitions towards providing long-term visibility of the force’s requirements in the area of ​​UAS. The nearly 50-page document ‘Indian Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Munitions’, which was released by Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustainment) in New Delhi on April 6, provides clear, actionable visibility to industry, academia and R&D institutions, enabling them to channel investment, time, energy and technical efforts towards priority areas identified by the Army. The Indian Army’s roadmap lists 30 types of UAS and loitering munitions across five categories: surveillance, ammunition dropping, air defense roles, special roles and logistics.Designed as a visionary strategic document, it aims to harness indigenous capabilities in line with the evolving requirements of modern warfare. It also integrates lessons from recent conflicts such as the Russia–Ukraine War and the West Asia conflict, where unmanned systems have had a significant impact. By clearly setting out technical and operational priorities, the document seeks to serve as a vital bridge between operational requirements and technological developments, ensuring that India’s drone ecosystem develops in a structured, demand-driven manner. The initiative is also expected to catalyze greater participation from startups, MSMEs and academia while encouraging long-term investment in this important and emerging technology.At the event, Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh cautioned about the sensitive nature of the document and urged stakeholders not to share it with unauthorized persons. He urged extreme caution, saying Pakistan and China may want to get their hands on this document.Citing the West Asia conflict, he pointed to the Iranian-made Shaheed-136 drone and the US’s deployment of “reverse-engineered” cheap drones, LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), designed to counter Iranian attacks. “We all need to be aware of this and much more to ensure that in a conflict situation we operate like a well-functioning machine,” Lt Gen Singh said. He described the services, industry and education as a “troika” and said the engagement between the military and industry has increased manifold over the years.Major General CS Mann, ADG, Army Design Bureau, said this is the first time that the Army has shared such specifications related to the area of ​​UAS and munitions, which shows the importance attached to these capabilities.The document mentions details such as the equipment name, type, expected life cycle, estimated quantity and information on its variants.