In a setback for the armed forces' plans for military drones, a MALE drone assembled in India crashed during a trial. The armed forces need at least 150 new MALE drones and have already signed a contract for high-altitude drones. Drones have become increasingly important in military operations, as seen in recent conflicts. India needs to develop a robust drone manufacturing ecosystem involving private and public players. The government should review its policy of selecting the lowest bidder to encourage innovation and lower prices.