Nagastra-1

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Nagastra-1
TypeUnmanned aerial vehicle
Loitering munition
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used byIndian Army
Wars2025 India–Pakistan conflict
Production history
DesignerZ-Motion Autonomous Systems
Economic Explosives Limited
ManufacturerEconomic Explosives Limited
Produced2024–current
Specifications
Mass8–9 kg (18–20 lb)
WarheadHigh-explosive fragmentation
Warhead weight1–1.5 kg (2.2–3.3 lb)
EngineElectric motor
Operational
range
30–40 km (19–25 mi)
Flight ceiling>4,500 m (4.5 km) AMSL
Flight altitude>200 m (660 ft) AGL
Accuracy2 m (6 ft 7 in) CEP

The Nagastra-1 is an indigenously designed, portable unmanned aerial vehicle and loitering munition, developed by the Nagpur based private company Economic Explosives Limited in collaboration with Bengaluru based startup Z-Motion Autonomous Systems. It is intended to give the Indian Army a modern, lightweight, and adaptable system for asymmetric warfare, such as reconnaissance and precision strikes.[1]

Nagastra-1 can precisely locate, track, and destroy the target. It is used for concentrated attacks against single, authorized target while reducing collateral damage. With AI capabilities, Nagastra-1 can keep circling the skies until it locates its target. By delivering precise hits on enemy training camps, launch pads, and infiltration units, the Nagastra-1 lowers the risk for soldiers. As per the company, Nagastra-1 is made of over 75% indigenous content.[2][3][4]

History and development

The use of loitering munitions during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Red Sea crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Chinese acquisitions of suicide drones as well as the increase in drone-related incidents in India's border areas, particularly with Pakistan, prompted Economics Explosives Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries, to work with Indian startup Z-Motion Autonomous Systems to develop Nagastra-1 for the Indian Army.[5][6][7] Nagastra-1 is man-portable, electric powered fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle/loitering munition. With a total weight of 30 kg divided between two backpack, the Nagastra-1 weapon system includes a payload, communication control, portable ground control station, and a pneumatic launcher. Nagastra-1 is based on Z Motion Autonomous Systems' Trinetra loitering munition. The UAV weighs 8–9 kg and has a 30-minute flight endurance time with two electric motors. With man-in-loop control, its range is 15 km, while in autonomous mode, it can reach 30–40 km.[8][1][9][10] The 30-minute flight endurance time has now been extended to 60 minutes.[11][12][13]

Nagastra warhead on display

Nagastra-1 carries 1-1.5 kg of high-explosive fragmentation warhead with surveillance cameras for day and night operation.[14] After taking off, Nagastra-1 can fly over a designated region and look for a suitable target. When the target is located, it dives at it and eliminates it. Nagastra-1 allows for quicker reaction times for moving targets. Due to the ability to modify or cancel attacks in mid-flight, more selective targeting is possible by faster response time against hidden targets. Because it uses an electric propulsion system, the UAV has a low sound signature, making it almost undetectable at heights above 200 meters. In kamikaze mode, Nagastra-1 can use GPS/NavIC satellite guidance to eliminate hostile threats with an accuracy of up to 2 meters CEP. Nagastra-1 has the ability to terminate its mission in midair and be recovered using a parachute recovery mechanism for use in future missions.[15][8][1]

Nagastra-1R

A 360-degree gimbal camera is part of the system, and for night missions, a thermal camera can be added. It also has a high-precision targeting system with a circular error probable (CEP) of 2 meters, as well as proprietary encryption for safe video and telemetry transmissions. More than 80% of the system's parts are indigenous. Successful field tests have been conducted at Babina, and Ladakh.[16]

Features

  • Lightweight, portable and easy to carry the entire weapon system in two backpacks.[17]
  • Precision strike capability in kamikaze mode.[4]
  • Operation at high altitudes above 4,500 meters.[4]
  • Cameras for day and night surveillance and a warhead for soft-skin targets.[4]
  • Recall and reuse. A parachute-based mid-flight recovery system and a mission abort function for unidentified targets.[18][4][10]

Future development

Nagastra-3 on display

While the subsidiary company Economic Explosives Limited, began developmental works for the Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3, more advanced variants of the platform with improved warhead carrying capacity and flying endurance. The design and development of a medium altitude long endurance class of drones has also been proposed by Solar Industries.[3] For man-in-loop control, the 12 kg Nagastra-2 carrying 2.2–4 kg anti-tank/anti-personnel warhead will have a range of more than 25 km and can hover over a target for 90 minutes. It is used against armored warfare targets.[19][20][10]

The Nagastra-3 is a component of Medium Range Precision Kill System. The Ministry of Defense has placed it under Project Sanction Order in the Make-I category of the Defense Acquisition Procedure 2020. The operational range and endurance of Nagastra-3 will be up to 100 km and more than 5 hours, respectively.[21]

Order

On 24 April 2023, Solar Industries announced that Economic Explosives Limited had defeated contenders from Poland's WB Electronics Warmate and Israel's UVision Air to secure a ₹212 crore contract with the Ministry of Defense for the provision of supplying loitering munitions.[22][23][14][24] Compared to similar airborne weaponry imported from Poland and Israel, Nagastra-1 is found 40% less expensive.[25]

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve precision-strike capabilities and update its artillery and infantry support systems, the Indian Army ordered 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions on 23 June 2025.[26][27]

Operational history

The Indian Army confirmed the system's readiness for deployment by completing a pre-delivery inspection for the first batch of Nagastra-1 which consists of 120 units at Army Ammunition Depot in Pulgaon between 20–25 May 2024.[28][29]

In order to acquire and engage targets during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army employed Nagastra-1.[30][31]

Operators

 India

  •  Indian Army: The initial batch of 120 units were delivered in June 2024.[32] Additional 480 units delivered in December 2024.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Army gets Nagastra-1, India's first indigenous suicide drone". India Today. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  2. ↑ "Nagpur's Nagastra flies over Lahore, presents doomsday". Keralakaumudi Daily. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "India Army's drone arsenal expands: Nagastra-1 brings enhanced lethality and precision to battlefield". The Week. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Army unleashes 'silent killer' indigenous Nagastra-1 suicide drones along Pakistan, China borders: Key features revealed". The Economic Times. 2024-06-17. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  5. ↑ Kweera, Rakshit (6 May 2023). "Drones: An Emerging Threat on the Volatile India-Pakistan Border". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  6. ↑ Patil, Sameer; Arora, Raj (8 May 2023). "Countering Hostile Drone Activity on the India-Pakistan Border". orfonline.org. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  7. ↑ Pillai, Joy (2024-12-30). "Is LAC in danger as China acquiring 1 million suicide drones, India's Nagastra ready to…". india.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yadav, Dhruv (2024-06-14). "Indigenous Nagastra-1 Suicide Drones Delivered To Army Set for Induction". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  9. ↑ "Indian Kamikaze Drone Going Global". resonantnews.com. 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Sof, Eric (2023-06-18). "EEL Nagastra: India's Indigenous Loitering Munition Revolutionizes Defense Capabilities". Combat Operators. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  11. ↑ "Market reacts to this defence firm's involvement in strategic Operation Sindoor". Manufacturing Today India. 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  12. ↑ Pant, Asmita (2024-06-14). "Nagastra-1: Indian Army is now equipped with first batch of high-precision, man-portable suicide drones". CNBCTV18. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  13. ↑ "Solar Industries to supply UAV 'Nagastra' to Indian Army". The Economic Times. 2023-04-21. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Arya, Shishir (2023-04-21). "Nagpur's Nagastra beats global munition biggies". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  15. ↑ Teotia, Riya (2024-06-14). "Indian Army receives first batch of indigenous suicide drones 'Nagastra-1'". Wion. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  16. ↑ "Indian Army orders 450 more Nagastra-1R loitering munitions from Solar Defence". CNBCTV18. 2025-06-23. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  17. ↑ Linganna, Girish (2024-06-16). "Nagastra-1: India's first indigenous suicide drone". DNA India. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  18. ↑ "Nagpur firm to supply UAV 'Nagastra-1' to Indian Army; know features of the precision strike drone". Asianet Newsable. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  19. ↑ Katoch (Retd), Lt. General P.C. (2023-05-15). "Indigenous Nagastra Kamikaze Drone". sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  20. ↑ Kumar, Abhijeet (2024-06-14). "Indian Army gets first indigenous suicide drones with reusable technology". Business Standard. India. Archived from the original on 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  21. ↑ Jain, Karishma (2025-03-30). "What is Nagastra-3? India's New Loitering Munition In The Making". News18. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  22. ↑ "Solar Industries India bags Rs 212 crore order from Ministry of Defence". PSU Watch. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  23. ↑ Bisht, Inder Singh (2023-04-26). "Indian Army Procures Over 400 Locally-Made Kamikaze Drones". thedefensepost.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  24. ↑ "What is Nagastra-1, Indian Army's first 'Make in India' suicide drones?". Firstpost. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  25. ↑ Siddiqui, Huma (2024-06-16). "India advances in drone warfare with Nagastra 1 Deployment". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  26. ↑ "Army drone deal: India orders 450 Nagastra-1R units; SDAL touts reusable, precision strike edge". The Times of India. 2025-06-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  27. ↑ "Nagastra-1R suicide drone: Check the features of this made in India drone". The Economic Times. 2025-06-23. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  28. ↑ "Indian Army inducts indigenous Nagastra-1 kamikaze drones from Solar Industries". ANI. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  29. ↑ "Nagastra-1, India's own suicide drone for Army: 6 things to know - First batch of Nagastra-1 delivered". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  30. ↑ "Watch: Indian Army simulates future warfare using AI and drones near China border". The Economic Times. 2025-07-28. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  31. ↑ "Govt is committed to achieving Aatmanirbharta in ammunition manufacturing & make the country a global production hub: Raksha Mantri" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-01-19. He added that Nagastra drones, manufactured by the Solar Group, were successfully used during Operation Sindoor, as it accurately struck terrorist targets, thereby proving its strategic capability.
  32. ↑ "Watch: Army Inducts Indigenous Nagastra-1 Precision "Kamikaze Drones"". ndtv.com. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  33. ↑ "Indian Army receives 480 loitering munitions from Solar Industries for precision strike capabilities". ANI. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
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