Dronathon 2026: IAF to put drone warfare to test at Pokhran from Sept 14

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will bring together drone makers, start-ups and defence innovators at Rajasthan's Pokhran range next week as it hosts ' Dronathon 2026 ', a three-day event focused on testing and showcasing the latest unmanned and counter-drone technologies .The exercise will be held from September 14 to 16 at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer. It will feature both static displays and live demonstrations, giving the armed forces an opportunity to assess how emerging systems perform in operational conditions.The event will focus on technologies that are increasingly shaping modern warfare, including surveillance and reconnaissance drones, autonomous systems, swarm operations and electronic warfare capabilities. Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS), designed to detect and tackle hostile drones, will also be a key area of demonstration.According to the defence ministry, the demonstrations will help the IAF identify emerging solutions and assess their combat effectiveness. The event is also aimed at enabling manufacturers and military stakeholders to exchange feedback and learn from each other.The initiative comes as India seeks to expand its indigenous defence manufacturing base and reduce dependence on foreign systems. The IAF said Dronathon 2026 will bring together industry experts, start-ups and innovators as part of the broader push for an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.With drones playing a growing role in surveillance, precision strikes, electronic warfare and battlefield operations, the IAF is seeking technologies that can strengthen its ability to operate in an increasingly complex combat environment.The force said initiatives such as Dronathon are intended to support the development of a technologically advanced, indigenous and future-ready capability to meet evolving security challenges.