Nagastra-1: India's First Indigenous Suicide Drone

Nagastra-1 and Its Capabilities

The Indian Army has taken a significant step towards self-reliance in defence by inducting its first indigenous loitering munition, Nagastra-1. Developed by Solar Industries in Nagpur, this man-portable suicide drone is designed to precisely target enemy launch pads, training camps, and infiltrators while minimizing risk to soldiers. The Army has placed an order for 480 units from Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, under Emergency Procurement Powers.

Nagastra-1 is a fixed-wing electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weighing 9 kg with an impressive endurance of 30 minutes. It offers a range of 15 km with man-in-loop control, extending up to 30 km in autonomous mode. The drone excels in "kamikaze mode," neutralizing threats with GPS-enabled precision strikes and boasting an accuracy of up to two meters. Equipped with day and night surveillance cameras, it carries a 1 kg high-explosive fragmenting warhead effective against soft-skin targets. Its electric propulsion system ensures a low acoustic signature, making it nearly undetectable at altitudes over 200 meters.

Indigenous Development and Unique Features

With over 75% indigenous content, Nagastra-1 represents a collaborative effort between EEL and Z-Motion Autonomous Systems Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru. The system's all-up weight of 30 kg is distributed across two rucksacks, housing components such as the ground control station, communication control, payload, and pneumatic launcher.

What sets Nagastra-1 apart is its ability to abort missions, recover, and be reused multiple times, facilitated by a parachute recovery system. This feature allows the drone to be retrieved safely if a target is not identified or the mission is cancelled, contributing to cost-effectiveness and resource optimization.

The drone's successful development marks a breakthrough for India's defence industry, where most companies lack expertise in weaponized drones for combat applications. Solar Industries' initiative in developing various weaponized drones, with Nagastra-1 being a prime example, signifies the beginning of a new era in India's indigenous capability to employ UAVs as formidable war machinery.

Strategic Importance and Deployment

The induction of Nagastra-1 comes at a crucial time when drone technology has proven to be a force multiplier in military operations worldwide. Recent conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Ukraine have demonstrated the strategic advantage of such systems. Moreover, India has witnessed an increase in drone-related incidents along its northern borders, underscoring the urgent need for indigenous counter-solutions.

The Indian Army's decision to procure these drones under emergency powers highlights their critical requirement on borders with China and Pakistan. Nagastra-1's ability to operate in extreme cold and high-altitude conditions further enhances its suitability for deployment in diverse and challenging terrains.

The first batch of 120 units has already been delivered to the Army Ammunition Depot in Pulgaon following successful pre-delivery inspections. This rapid deployment, within a year of the order placement, showcases the efficiency of India's defence manufacturing ecosystem.

By reducing dependence on foreign sources and offering a cost-effective alternative to similar imported systems, Nagastra-1 embodies the spirit of 'atmanirbharta' in defence production. As silent killers designed for foot infantry units, these drones are poised to significantly bolster the Indian Army's tactical capabilities, providing a decisive edge in modern warfare scenarios while safeguarding soldiers' lives.