Story perspectives

India’s Army Opens Six AASHVAST Drone Security Labs

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 10:53 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

India’s Army inaugurated six AASHVAST labs to inspect drones for firmware vulnerabilities.
The first lab opened in Delhi Cantonment on August 14, 2026, inaugurated by General Dhiraj Seth.
The labs can detect roughly 14 vulnerability types, such as geospatial and time-triggered bugs.
The programme follows a 2025 framework to eliminate Chinese-origin components from defence equipment.

History

Historical Context

After the 2015 National Security Risk Assessment highlighted rising cyber and technology threats, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory launched a Drone Security Programme. Building on that precedent, India inaugurated six AASHVAST labs in 2026 under General Dhiraj Seth to vet Chinese-origin components, a move echoing the UK’s £178 billion defence investment drive.

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Story summary

India’s Army inaugurated six AASHVAST labs to inspect drones for firmware vulnerabilities.
The first lab opened in Delhi Cantonment on August 14, 2026, inaugurated by General Dhiraj Seth.
The labs can detect roughly 14 vulnerability types, such as geospatial and time-triggered bugs.
The programme follows a 2025 framework to eliminate Chinese-origin components from defence equipment.

1 / 2