In a significant step towards enhancing its unmanned combat capabilities, the Indian Army has placed an order for approximately 450 NAGASTRA-1R loitering munitions from Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL). The order was confirmed through an official statement released by SDAL.
According to the company, the NAGASTRA-1R is a cost-effective loitering munition system featuring full reusability of its launcher components. It is equipped with a 360-degree gimbal camera, and also offers an optional thermal camera for effective night operations. The system is built with high precision targeting, achieving a circular error probable (CEP) of just 2 metres.
The NAGASTRA-1R comes with proprietary encryption for both video and telemetry communication, ensuring secure data transmission in combat scenarios. With over 80 per cent indigenous content, the system reflects India's focus on self-reliant defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The loitering munition has been successfully tested across various terrains, including high-altitude regions like Ladakh and Babina near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, on June 12, SDAL successfully completed trials of its Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at the Pokharan Firing Range. Conducted in alignment with Indian Army performance parameters, the trials validated the UAV’s ability to conduct vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), offer high endurance, execute precision targeting, and provide operational flexibility.
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During the trial, Rudrastra demonstrated its capability to cover a mission radius exceeding 50 km, while maintaining a stable real-time video link, and returned safely to its original launch point. The system achieved a total range of over 170 km, including loitering time at the target location, and displayed an endurance of approximately 1.5 hours.
A major highlight of the trial was the successful deployment of a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead. Dropped from a medium altitude, the warhead executed a low-height airburst detonation, delivering a lethal impact over a wide area—fulfilling tactical benchmarks for battlefield effectiveness.
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In a parallel development, SDAL also conducted trials of its low-cost counter-drone solution, ‘Bhargavastra’, designed for hard-kill mode neutralisation of hostile drone swarms. This indigenously developed system uses micro-rockets for rapid and effective threat mitigation. The trials were carried out on May 13 and 14 at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, under the supervision of senior officials from the Army Air Defence (AAD). The successful tests underline India’s growing capabilities in counter-drone warfare and homeland security.
These recent developments mark a notable advancement in India's indigenous defence ecosystem, reinforcing the nation's strategic commitment to self-reliance in advanced military technologies.
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