SDAL Supplies 450 Nagastra-1R Loitering Munitions to the Indian Army

Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has completed the delivery of 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions to the Indian Army, marking the company’s largest single-batch supply of the system to date. The company said the procurement order was placed under the emergency acquisition process after a series of technical trials. Four companies reportedly took part in the evaluation, but SDAL was the only one to demonstrate all the operational capabilities specified by the Army.

Developed to meet the Army’s requirements for short-range missions, the Nagastra-1R is designed to carry out precision strikes against designated targets. According to SDAL, the system can perform kamikaze-style attacks while also offering an abort-and-recovery capability, allowing the munition to be retrieved if an attack is discontinued under permitted operational conditions.

SDAL said the system underwent multiple live trials to assess its performance, including tests of target accuracy. The company described the domestically developed platform as a cost-effective option for the Indian Army, highlighting the growing importance of precision-strike capabilities amid changing regional and international security conditions.

Loitering munitions are unmanned aerial systems that can remain airborne over a designated area while searching for or awaiting a target before conducting an attack. Some systems incorporate recovery features that allow missions to be aborted in specified circumstances, offering greater flexibility during operations.

The Indian Army placed an order for approximately 450 Nagastra-1R systems in June 2025. The latest delivery represents a significant step in the deployment of indigenous defence technology and reflects India's broader efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported military equipment.

SDAL Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal expressed confidence in the company's indigenous counter-drone system, Bhargavastra, in July 2026. He said the technology could contribute to the development of India's proposed Sudarshan Chakra air defence system, which has an ambitious target of becoming operational by 2030.

Nuwal stated that Bhargavastra's radar can detect aerial threats at distances of up to 10 kilometres, while its Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) has a reported range of six kilometres. According to him, these capabilities exceed the Indian Army's current operational requirement of 2.5 kilometres. The delivery of the Nagastra-1R systems, alongside ongoing work on counter-drone technology, highlights the expanding role of indigenous defence companies in India's military modernisation efforts.