Peskov made the comments during a virtual interaction with Indian journalists on September 8, ahead of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi.
Dronathon 2026 will focus on surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare. Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems will also form a major part of the programme as armed forces increasingly confront the challenge posed by small, low-cost and expendable drones.
Known as the Compact Trans-Horizon Communication System, or CTCS, the indigenous system has been developed by DRDO’s Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory in Dehradun. It is designed to provide beyond-line-of-sight digital connectivity between tactical locations, particularly in hilly and remote regions where conventional terrestrial communication links may be difficult to establish.
The Shakti, also known as the Ardiden 1H1, was co-developed by HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines and has become one of the central powerplants supporting India’s indigenous military helicopter fleet. HAL officially lists the engine on the Dhruv Mk III and Mk IV, while the weaponised Rudra is powered by two Shakti engines. The Light Combat Helicopter, now known as LCH Prachand, also uses twin Shakti engines producing about 1,032 kW each.
The Gujarat-based precision engineering company disclosed the development on September 7, 2026, stating that it had received the HAL purchase order on September 5. IPCL described the contract as being of substantial value, although financial details have not been disclosed because of contractual confidentiality requirements.
The programme was led primarily by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, or DRDL, in Hyderabad, part of DRDO’s Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex. At the heart of HSTDV was an indigenous Supersonic Combustion Ramjet, or scramjet, designed to burn fuel while the airflow passing through its combustion chamber remained supersonic.
The orders were disclosed by Jyoti Global Plast on September 7, 2026 and have an aggregate value of ₹8,62,66,015. The company said the components will be supplied for applications associated with defence and aerospace imaging and sensing equipment.
Arudhra is one of India’s most advanced indigenous ground-based surveillance radars. Developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, or LRDE, of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, it is a rotating active phased-array multifunction 4D radar designed to create an accurate picture of activity across a large volume of airspace.
The Indian Army uses the Dhruv for a wide range of missions including troop transport, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, logistics support, search and rescue and operations in high-altitude areas. The helicopter has been extensively employed in demanding regions such as Ladakh and the Siachen sector, where rotary-wing aircraft are essential for moving personnel and supplies.
The milestone was announced on September 7, 2026, by Boeing. Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, or TBAL, is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Boeing and has developed Hyderabad into an important manufacturing centre for one of the world’s most widely operated attack helicopters.
