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.
This monograph deliberates on reforms for achieving self-reliance in naval aviation. Indian Navy (IN) is at the cusp of transforming from a ‘buyers navy’ to a ‘builder navy’ in ship...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang’s article ‘Make & Build in India: Self-reliance in Aero-engines through Safran Deal will help bypass delays’ has been published in...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang’s paper ‘Integration of Small Drones for Effective Border Management by India’ was published in ‘SEEMANTA 2025’, a Souvenir Publication on...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt RK Narang’s article ‘India’s Naval Fighter Stalemate Threatens Atmanirbharta’ has been published in Bharat Shakti on 18 August 2025. Limited induction of the...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang’s article ‘Drones in Operation Sindoor’ was published in the May 2025 issue of Rotor India Magazine. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang’s article ‘What The Region’s First Drone Warfare Taught Us’ has been published in The New Indian Express on 13 May 2025. The first...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang’s article ‘Integrated Power’ has been published in the May 18, 2025 edition of ‘The Week’. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang VM (Retd) delivered a talk on ‘Building Industry for Future Aerial Warfare in India’ at the Future Technologies Summit, organised...
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) RK Narang, VM, participated in discussion on ‘Drone Debate: Challenges and Opportunities for India’ on News 9 Plus show on 17 February 2025.