In the wake of intense drone warfare during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, the Indian Army has announced a significant procurement initiative, aiming to acquire 1,000 surveillance and 1,000 kamikaze drones. This move underscores India’s strategic shift toward drone-centric warfare, particularly in light of asymmetric threats along its borders. The conflict, marked by the first overt drone exchanges between the two nuclear-armed nations, revealed drones’ transformative role in modern combat, prompting India to prioritize indigenous UAV development under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. As global trends in drone warfare evolve, India’s focus on enhancing its ISR capabilities and precision strike options through indigenization aligns with the need to bolster its defense strategies against emerging threats from both Pakistan and China.