Indian Army to buy 850 indigenous Kamikaze drones at Rs 2,000 crore to strengthen the country’s defence system

The Indian Army is set to acquire 850 indigenous kamikaze drones for Rs 2,000 crore to strengthen the country’s defence system.

Army about to buy kamikaze drones for Rs 2,000 crore 

The proposal is expected to receive formal clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council later this month and is being viewed as a major leap in India’s preparedness for next-generation warfare.

The entire procurement will rely on indigenous manufacturers, fortifying the Modi government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ objectives.

Indian firms such as InsideFPV Ventures and Maharshi Industries are leading the market in producing affordable, high-precision kamikaze drones, with some units reportedly costing around $400 each.

The Indian Army’s decision draws heavily from operational lessons learned during India’s recent counter-terror operations, including Operation Sindoor, where unmanned aerial systems played a critical role in the precision targeting of terrorist hideouts across the Line of Control.

The Army has effectively used drones during Operation Sindoor, targeting terror headquarters inside Pakistan and neutralising 7 of 9 terrorist targets. The drones also attacked the Pakistan Army, causing massive damage and casualties.

According to defence sources, the kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, will be inducted across all three services: the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Military planners believe the expanded use of loitering munitions will significantly improve the Armed Forces’ ability to carry out accurate, intelligence-driven strikes while minimising collateral damage.

Designed to hover over a designated area before striking a target with an onboard explosive payload, these drones offer a cost-effective and highly precise alternative to conventional weapon systems.

Their dual capability for surveillance and strike missions makes them especially effective in both conventional combat and counterinsurgency operations.

 The Indian Army plans to induct nearly 30,000 loitering munitions in the near future.

Each infantry battalion will be equipped with a dedicated “Ashni platoon,” tasked exclusively with operating and deploying these unmanned systems.

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