Indian Army Orders 450 NAGASTRA-1 Loitering Munitions To Boost Tactical Precision Under ‘Make-In-India’

The Indian Army has placed an order for 450 Nagastra‑1R loitering munitions, commonly described as suicide drones with Nagpur-based Solar Industries, marking a notable step in India's move towards indigenously-produced military technology, as reported by The Economic Times

The order was secured under the Army's emergency procurement powers, following a 2024 contract for 480 Nagastra units. An initial batch of 120 drones was delivered in June 2024 after pre-delivery inspections, according to defence officials 

Equipped with GPS-guided targeting and capable of operating at altitudes over 4,500 m, the electrically powered Nagastra‑1R can loiter for up to an hour and strike targets within a 15 km man-in-loop range, or up to 30 km in autonomous mode. Unique among such systems, this drone features a parachute recovery mechanism for aborted missions, allowing for reuse

Manufactured with over 75 per cent indigenous components, the Nagastra‑1R has been deployed operationally against low-end threats like platoons of infiltrators, providing silent, cost-effective precision-strike capability

The procurement supports India's broader Make‑in‑India defence initiative, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, while enhancing tactical flexibility, especially along border areas with insurgent activity.

Deliveries of the new batch are expected in phases. The suicide drone joins other recent domestic orders and falls within India’s growing strategy of equipping infantry and artillery units with loitering munitions, as the defence ecosystem shifts toward drone-intensive warfare.