Latest news with #Nagastra-1R
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Army inks deals worth Rs 295 crore for spy drones & loitering munitions from desi private firms
Army has ordered around 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions or Kamikaze drones, which are capable of night operations (Image credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: Under emergency procurement powers granted to the armed forces to build and replenish stocks after Operation Sindoor, the Army has ordered small loitering munitions and mini surveillance drones in two contracts, collectively worth Rs 295 crore, from domestic private sector companies. The DRDO, on its part, has also offered 28 of its weapon systems to the three services for emergency procurements. They range from rockets, air-to-air missiles and airto-ground missiles to laserguided bombs, torpedoes and shoulder-fired air defence missiles, among others. Of the two contracts inked by the Army, the first is for around 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions or kamikaze drones, which are also capable of night operations, at a cost of Rs 158 crore from the Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. The other deal is worth Rs 137 crore with ideaForge Technology for hybrid miniUAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) systems, variants of the Switch drones with VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capabilities, for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions. Variants of the Nagastra and the UAVs with VTOL are already in the Army's inventory and were extensively used during the cross-border hostilities with Pakistan from May 7 to 10. The fresh orders have to be executed within a year. The Nagastra, with a 360-degree gimbal camera and the option of putting a thermal camera for night operations, comes with a highprecision targeting system.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
450 loitering munitions ordered to help boost army's capabilities
The ministry of defence has ordered 450 locally produced loitering munitions, or kamikaze drones, from a Nagpur-based defence firm, Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd, to boost the army's precision targeting capabilities, weeks after Indian forces deployed these weapons to hit targets in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, people aware of the matter said on Monday. Such munitions hover over the battle zone, locate the target and crash into it (AP) The ₹ 158-crore order for the Nagastra-1R loitering munitions is a follow-on contract to the 480 Nagastra-1 drones ordered for the army last year through the emergency procurement route, the people said, asking not to be named. The firm, a subsidiary of Solar Industries and earlier known as Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), will execute the new order in one year to meet the army's urgent needs. Such munitions hover over the battle zone, locate the target and crash into it. The Nagastra-1R is equipped with a 360-degree gimbal camera, with the option of using a thermal one for night operations, has a proprietary encryption for video and telemetry communication, and its launcher system is reusable, HT learnt. It has an indigenous content of around 80%. Loitering munitions --- including Nagastra-1, and Harop bought from Israel --- were deployed during Operation Sindoor. Nagastra-1 carries a one-kg warhead, has a maximum range of 30 km, and an endurance of 60 minutes. The exact specifications of the newer variant Nagastra-1R weren't immediately available. Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd has expanded its footprint in the country's defence manufacturing sector in recent years. In February, the defence ministry signed two contracts worth ₹ 10,147-crore to buy ammunition for the army's indigenous Pinaka multi-launcher rocket system — one of them was with Solar and the other with Pune-based Munitions India Limited. The Nagpur-based firm (then called EEL) has also supplied one million hand grenades to the army under a 2020 contract worth ₹ 409 crore. These replaced a World War-II vintage hand grenade design that was being used by the army. India launched the operation in the early hours of May 7 and struck terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike in which 26 people were shot dead. It triggered a four-day military confrontation with Pakistan involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, long-range weapons and heavy artillery before the two sides reached an understanding on stopping all military action on May 10. Days after the ceasefire, the government granted powers to the armed forces to make emergency purchases worth around ₹ 40,000 crore. On June 21, defence minister Rajnath Singh said India paused Operation Sindoor after Pakistan asked for a ceasefire. 'Operation Sindoor is not over yet. India is fully prepared to take all kinds of action against terrorism,' he said at the time, addressing troops in Udhampur. Private sector drone maker ideaForge Technology on Monday said it has secured an order worth ₹ 137 crore --- through the emergency procurement route --- for supplying mini UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) systems to the army, adding that these are battle-tested and inducted into the army's inventory for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) operations. 'The platform has also been battle-tested during the recent Operation Sindoor, where it played a critical role in providing ISR to the armed forces. Its performance in live operations validated both its technological robustness and mission-critical value,' the company said in a statement. This emergency procurement for counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations will help safeguard national security, and 'reaffirms our commitment to building world-class, reliable UAVs in India', ideaForge Technology CEO Ankit Mehta said. 'It is a matter of pride that our platforms are not just made in India, but are also built to serve and protect India under the most demanding conditions, backed by a resilient and trusted supply chain,' he said. The execution timeline for this order is also set at 12 months, aligning with the army's immediate operational requirements. On June 19, the defence ministry said it has set up a high-powered committee, headed by the director general (acquisition), to steer a comprehensive review of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 for speedy modernisation of the armed forces and boosting self-reliance in the critical sector. The aim of the review, the ministry said, is to meet the operational requirements and modernisation needs of the armed forces in a timely manner to ensure national security and achieve self-reliance goals by promoting technology infusion through indigenously designed and developed systems.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Time of India
After Op Sindoor success, Nagpur's Solar bags Army orders for night-op ‘killer drones'
Nagpur: After Nagastra 1 — the loitering munition that was used during Operation Sindoor — Nagpur's Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SADL) has bagged an order for the advanced version of the system, Nagastra-1R, that's capable of night operations too. The company signed an agreement to supply 450 Nagastra-1R to the Army within one year. This new system is equipped with a thermal camera for night operations apart from a 360 degree gimbal camera. The system has proprietary encryption for video and telemetry communication along with a high-precision targeting system. More than 80% of its components are indigenous, said a note shared with TOI. The system was tested at different locations, including Ladakh for cold weather trials, and Babina near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Loitering munitions are drone-based systems. The drones carry the bombs as payloads, which are dropped after zeroing in on the target. As it hovers around until the target is fixed, it gets the name loitering munitions. The Nagastra-1R also has full re-usability of the launcher systems, said sources. SADL is also developing the Nagastra 2 and Nagastra 3 versions, which have a higher range and can carry a heavier payload. The trials for the two versions are due soon, said sources involved in the project. The order to SADL for the Nagastra 1R loitering munitions comes after it successfully conducted trials for its hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) — Rudrastra — over a week ago. Rudrastra can penetrate deeper into enemy territory and return to the launch point. It has a range of up to 50km and can take a payload of 8kg, with an estimated endurance time of 1.5 hours. The trials were held at Pokhran range. SADL, which is predominantly into making military-grade ammunition, has over the years developed drone-based munition systems. Last month, it also tested its anti-drone system, Bhargavastra, which can attack a swarm of drones with a salvo of 64 mini rockets. Both guided and non-guided versions of the system have been tested. In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an airstrip at SADL's manufacturing facility. The 1,250-metre-long airstrip will cater to its project of building a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV.
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- India Gazette
Indian Army places order of 450 NAGASTRA-1R loitering munitions from SDAL
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The Indian Army has placed an order on Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) for procuring around 450 NAGASTRA-1R loitering munitions, as per the statement by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited. The Nagastra-1R is a cost effective system with full re-usability of launcher systems. The advanced Loitering Munition System with 360 gimbal camera with the option of putting thermal camera option for night operations, the statement further read. The systems has a proprietary encryption for both video and Telemetry communication and comes with high precision targeting system with 2 metres CEP and has more than 80% indegenous content. The systems have been tested at various locations, including Ladakh and Babina near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, the statement added. Earlier on June 12, the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) successfully completed the trial of its Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at the Pokharan Firing Range. The trial was conducted in accordance with the Indian Army's performance parameters, including vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), high endurance, precision targeting, and mission flexibility. The UAV demonstrated robust operational capability, covering a mission radius of over 50 km with a stable real-time video link and successfully returning to the original launch point. The total range, including loitering at the target area, exceeded 170 km, with an estimated endurance of approximately 1.5 hours. A significant highlight of the trial was the successful deployment of a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead. Dropped from medium altitude, the munition executed an airburst detonation at low height, achieving a lethal effect over a wide radius, meeting tactical effectiveness benchmarks. This successful demonstration marks a major milestone in India's pursuit of indigenized defence technologies and is a strong step toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat. In a related development, SDAL had earlier tested a new low-cost counter-drone solution in hard-kill mode, named 'Bhargavastra'. Designed to neutralise hostile drone swarms, the system employs micro-rockets to deliver rapid and effective responses. The trials were conducted at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur on May 13 and 14 under the observation of senior Army Air Defence (AAD) officials. (ANI)
Business Upturn
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Solar Industries shares in focus as defence arm secures 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions order from Indian Army
Solar Industries shares were in focus today after the company's defence subsidiary received an order for 450 units of Nagastra-1R loitering munitions from the Indian Army. As of 11:45 AM, the shares were trading 0.35% higher at Rs 17,056.00. BIG NEWS FOR SOLAR INDUSTRIES SOLAR IND: DEFENCE ARM GETS 450 NAGASTRA-1R LOITERING MUNITIONS ORDER FROM INDIAN ARMY — RedboxGlobal India (@REDBOXINDIA) June 23, 2025 The stock opened at ₹17,050.00 and climbed to a high of ₹17,164.00 during intraday trade, edging closer to its 52-week high of ₹17,300.00. The day's low was ₹16,910.00. The development has sparked renewed interest in the stock, which has already seen a strong rally over the past year, rising from a 52-week low of ₹8,482.50. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
