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Indian Army Gets Indigenous Kamikaze Drones & Precision Munitions

The Indian Army has inducted two new indigenous combat systems, the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM) and AGNIKAA VTOL-1 FPV kamikaze drone, under Emergency Procurement. The ULPGM, co-developed by DRDO and Adani Defence, is India's first loitering munition with a strike range of 2.5 km and a two-kg warhead. The AGNIKAA VTOL-1 is an anti-personnel kamikaze drone designed for urban and open battlefield operations with a range of five km. Both systems have passed high-altitude and electronic warfare trials, enhancing the Army's precision-strike capabilities.

Key Points: Indian Army Inducts Indigenous Kamikaze Drones

  • Indian Army receives two new indigenous combat systems
  • ULPGM is India's first loitering munition with IIR seeker
  • AGNIKAA VTOL-1 is a kamikaze drone for urban warfare
  • Both systems operate in GPS-denied and EW environments
2 min read

Indian Army gets indigenous FPV kamikaze drones, UAV-launched precision munitions

Indian Army receives indigenous ULPGM loitering munition and AGNIKAA VTOL-1 FPV kamikaze drone, boosting combat capabilities.

"The ULPGM is India's first indigenous loitering munition in its category. - Defence sources"

New Delhi, May 11

The Indian Army has received two new indigenous combat systems under Emergency Procurement, including the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Munition and the AGNIKAA VTOL-1 First-Person View Kamikaze Drone.

Defence sources said that the systems were handed over in Hyderabad in the presence of officials from the Army's Western Command following successful high-altitude, electronic warfare (EW) and precision-guided munition firing trials.

The two systems, ULPGM and AGNIKAA VTOL-1, have been designed, developed and manufactured indigenously.

The ULPGM, co-developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Adani Defence & Aerospace, is India's first indigenous loitering munition in its category. The system is equipped with an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker and can be launched from UAVs to target both stationary and moving targets.

The UAV has an operational range of up to 20 kilometres, while the munition itself has a strike range of 2.5 kilometres.

The system is designed to operate in all weather conditions, during both day and night. It is also capable of functioning in GPS-denied and communication-jammed environments due to its anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities.

The ULPGM carries a two-kg warhead capable of neutralising both soft and hard targets and has an accuracy of one metre CEP (Circular Error Probable).

The missile has also been integrated with retractable UAV platforms, providing greater operational flexibility in contested electronic warfare environments.

The second system, AGNIKAA VTOL-1, has been described as India's first FPV (First-Person View) kamikaze drone in its class.

The drone has been developed as an anti-personnel precision-strike platform designed for urban warfare, confined spaces and open battlefield operations. It is capable of operating in GPS-denied and electronic warfare environments.

The AGNIKAA VTOL-1 has also undergone successful high-altitude and EW trials, validating its readiness for deployment in difficult operational terrains, sources added.

The drone has a range of up to five kilometres, an endurance of 30 minutes and a top speed of 60 kmph.

The system has a lethality radius of five metres against human targets and soft-skinned vehicles. It is also equipped with a three-layered trigger mechanism and a four-layer trigger safety system aimed at ensuring operator safety and mission reliability.

Defence sources further said that the system is highly agile, can be rapidly deployed and remains resilient in GPS-denied electronic warfare environments.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Good to see India developing asymmetric warfare capabilities. The anti-jamming and GPS-denied operation features are crucial for modern warfare where electronic warfare is key. However, I'm curious about the cost-per-unit and maintainability for the AGNIKAA drone with its 30-minute endurance. For border surveillance, longer endurance might be needed. Still, a solid step forward.
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Priya S
Finally, some real innovation in our defence sector! The three-layered trigger mechanism and four-layer safety system on the kamikaze drone show they've thought about operator safety seriously. But I'd like to see more transparency about the production timeline and how many units are being procured. Also, hope this creates jobs in Hyderabad's tech sector. Atmanirbhar Bharat is working! 💪
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James A
Impressive specs for both systems. The ULPGM's 20km UAV range with 2.5km strike range gives good stand-off capability. But I'm a bit sceptical about the "all-weather" claim - many Indian systems struggle in extreme conditions like high-altitude winters or desert heat. Let's hope the trials were rigorous. Also, would love to see how these compare with Israeli loitering munitions like Harop.
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Rohit P
Yaar, this is game-changing for our soldiers on the frontlines! The AGNIKAA VTOL-1 purpose-built for urban warfare and confined spaces means it can be a nightmare for terrorists in Kashmir or infiltrators. 5km range and 60 kmph speed is decent for tactical use. But why does the article not mention the production partner? Is it only DRDO or private sector involvement? Need more clarity on manufacturing scalability.

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