In a significant stride towards achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in ammunition and defence systems, the Indian Army is set to induct its first indigenous loiter munition, Nagastra-1.
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In a significant stride towards achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in ammunition and defence systems, the Indian Army is set to induct its first indigenous loiter munition, Nagastra-1. Developed by Solar Industries, Nagpur, the Army has placed a supply order for Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a 100 percent subsidiary of Solar Industries, to supply 480 loiter munitions.
Following a successful Pre-Delivery Inspection from May 20-25, EEL delivered the first batch of 120 units to the ammunition depot at Pulgaon. The Nagastra-1 excels in “kamikaze mode” by neutralising hostile threats with GPS-enabled precision strikes, boasting an accuracy of up to two metres.
Weighing 9 kg, this man-portable fixed-wing electric UAV has an endurance of 30 minutes. It offers a 15 km range with man-in-loop control and extends up to 30 km in autonomous mode. Due to its electric propulsion system, Nagastra-1 provides a low acoustic signature, making it almost undetectable at altitudes over 200 metres.
The UAV is equipped with day and night surveillance cameras and carries a 1 kg high-explosive fragmenting warhead to neutralise soft-skin targets. Its unique features like abort, recover and reuse, facilitated by a parachute recovery mechanism, set it apart from similar systems globally. Designed with over 75 % indigenous content in collaboration with Z-Motion Autonomous Systems Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, Nagastra-1 is a man-portable system with an all-up weight of 30 kg split across two rucksacks, including a ground control station, communication control, payload and pneumatic launcher.
This advancement is poised to significantly bolster India’s indigenous capability in employing UAVs as formidable war machinery.
