Examine how emerging technologies like anti-UAV systems, high-altitude pseudo satellites, and unmanned naval systems are reshaping India's defence modernization strategy.

The Defence Acquisition Council's Acceptance of Necessity for proposals worth about Rs 52,000 crore on 3 July 2026 — covering anti-UAV electronic warfare, a fixed-wing high altitude pseudo satellite and naval unmanned systems [1] — marks a shift from platform-heavy modernization to one built around sensors, autonomy and denial of the adversary's cheap technologies.

Countering the drone threat

• Approval of AKASH TARANG, an anti-UAV electronic warfare system for Army formations, alongside V-SHORADS and a jet-based kamikaze drone system [1], signals a layered air-defence grid rather than single-tier cover.
• The emphasis on soft-kill electronic warfare answers the core economics of drone warfare seen in recent conflicts, where costly interceptors were expended on cheap targets.

Persistent surveillance from the stratosphere

• The FW-HAPS for the Air Force [1] offers satellite-like, near-continuous surveillance without orbital launch costs, filling the gap between short-endurance UAVs and expensive satellites.
• This makes ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) a permanent capability rather than a mission-specific one, supporting faster targeting cycles.

Unmanned and autonomous maritime domain

• The Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System, Multi Influence Ground Mine and a land-based testing facility for electric propulsion [1] together extend maritime domain awareness and sea-denial in the Indian Ocean Region while reducing crew risk.

Reshaping procurement and industry

• Procurement runs through the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 [2], whose indigenous Buy (Indian-IDDM) category has anchored large clearances such as one worth about Rs 1.05 lakh crore [3], linking new technologies to domestic production.
• MoD's ongoing comprehensive review of DAP 2020 explicitly seeks alignment with artificial intelligence and autonomous systems [4].
• A caveat: AoN is only in-principle approval [1]; induction still depends on trials and contracting.

Emerging technologies are thus redefining modernization from counting platforms to building networked, indigenous and cost-efficient capability. Sustaining this requires compressing the approval-to-induction cycle and deepening DRDO–private industry co-development, so that the DAP review converts technological intent into genuine Aatmanirbharta in defence.