India’s Drone Imperative: Securing Air Superiority Against China and Pakistan by 2030

India faces a critical 2030 deadline to achieve drone superiority against China’s AI-enabled warfare capabilities and Pakistan’s asymmetric drone strategy. Despite progress with MQ-9B acquisitions and indigenous development, supply chain vulnerabilities and bureaucratic gaps threaten India’s goals. A unified National Mission for Unmanned Systems is essential for strategic security.
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India faces a critical 2030 deadline to achieve drone superiority or risk strategic vulnerability. This comprehensive report analyzes the dual threat from China’s AI-enabled “intelligentized warfare” capabilities and Pakistan’s cost-effective asymmetric drone strategy. While China deploys over 1,000 advanced UAVs including hypersonic reconnaissance platforms, Pakistan leverages Turkish and Chinese partnerships for credible strike capabilities. India’s response combines foreign acquisitions like MQ-9B drones with indigenous development through DRDO and private sector initiatives. However, supply chain vulnerabilities, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and dependence on Chinese components threaten progress. The report advocates for a unified National Mission for Unmanned Systems to coordinate procurement, accelerate indigenous production, and establish India as a global drone power by 2030.

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