Army to organise ‘Surya Dronathon’ in Spiti valley

The Surya Command of the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Drone Federation of India, is set to host the Surya Dronathon 2025, a pioneering drone competition that will bring together talented freelancers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) from across the country.

This innovative event is scheduled to take place at Sumdo in Lahaul and Spiti, where participants will face one of the highest drone obstacle courses in the country, situated at an altitude of 10,700 ft.

The competition will feature multiple stages, including Obstacle Negotiation, Endurance Race etc. The competition will be held in two phases — phase 1 from August 10 to 15 and phase 2 from August 20 to 24. The last date for registration is August 1. A spokesperson for the Indian Army said the Surya Dronathon aims to harness cutting-edge indigenous technology and foster a robust ecosystem of innovation in the defence sector, aligning with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and the Indian Army’s quest for technological advancement.

“The key objectives of the competition include promoting indigenous research, development, and manufacturing of advanced drone systems within India, identifying next-generation solutions to address current and future operational requirements, and fostering collaboration between the Army, individual innovators, startups and established defence manufacturers,” the spokesperson added.