iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
In a major success for indigenous weapon systems, the Indian Army has received the supply of 480 loitering munitions made by a Nagpur-based defence manufacturing firm with over 75% indigenous content.
The first indigenous Loiter Munition, Nagastra-1, developed by Solar Industries in Nagpur, has supplied the complete lot of 480 loitering munitions under a contract signed under emergency procurement powers by the force, defense officials said.
Nagastra-1 has an indigenous content of more than 75% and has been designed and developed indigenously by the firm.
The system is man-portable and light, and is intended to be used for precision strike capabilities by the Army troops, officials said.
Solar Industries is working on the advanced versions of the munition — Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3 — with extended performance and warhead carrying capabilities.
Solar Industries has also submitted proposals to the defense forces for the Design & Development of a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class of drones.
A few other Indian firms are also now moving towards developing the MALE indigenously under the defense ministry’s Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category for acquisition.
The forces are working towards having an Indigenous MALE program to develop a drone industry which can produce high capability drones at relatively lower costs.
The force is looking at acquiring 97 MALE drones to fulfil their surveillance requirements.
(Photo courtesy: Screengrab from X)