During which event did DRDO outline its plan to develop Indian Integrated Combat Aerial Systems (IICAS)?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is: (D) Drone Industry Conclave 2025

Explanation:

• DRDO outlined its plan to develop the Indian Integrated Combat Aerial Systems (IICAS) during the Drone Industry Conclave 2025, held in Coimbatore.

• During his address, G. Sankar, Project Director at ADE‑DRDO, revealed that IICAS would be developed by the mid-2040s, involving a network of manned combat aircraft supported by loyal wingman drones and advanced unmanned aerial systems .

Information Booster:

• The IICAS concept emphasizes collaboration between aircraft and drone swarms, enabling future combat missions with greater flexibility and reduced risk to pilots.

• It proposes secure indigenous software, robust data encryption, and GPS‑denied navigation technologies.

• The plan aims to integrate platforms like the TAPAS MALE drone, which already demonstrates 20‑hour endurance and satellite communications capability.

• DRDO expects IICAS to transform aerial warfare by the 2040s, moving beyond single-platform operations.

• The idea underscores India’s move toward network-centric combat systems and self-reliant aerospace innovation.