| Group Captain (Dr.) Rajiv Kumar Narang, Vayu Sena Medal (Retd.) is Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (MP-IDSA). He is former Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter pilot, qualified Flight Safety and Accident Investigator, Centre Seat Qualified Instructor on Chetak/ Cheetah helicopters and holder of Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (CHPL). He is an alumnus of the 57 Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, M Sc. in Defence & Strategic Studies and PhD in International Relations. He was awarded Vayu Sena Medal for meritorious service in 2000. He has authored a book titled “India’s Quest for UAVs and Challenges†and research papers on aviation, drones, counter-drone systems, Make in India and Self-Reliance. He worked as Research/ Senior Fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) between 2014 & 2019 and Director, Strategic Initiatives at Drone Federation of India between July 2021 to February 2023. He was a member of Drone Working Sub Group, Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2020-21 and High Power Steering Committee (HPSC) of Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in 2021 & 2022. He authored the HQ IDS-SIDM report titled “A Roadmap for India Becoming Atmanirbhar in Counter Drone Technologies/ Systems†in 2022. Senior Fellow |
