SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries, has taken a significant step toward bolstering India’s indigenous defense capabilities with the first public showcase of its Nagastra-3 loitering munition. Unveiled as a prototype under a Project Sanction Order (PSO) from the Ministry of Defence, the Nagastra-3 is being developed under the Make-I category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. With an operational range of up to 100 kilometers and an endurance exceeding five hours, this advanced system marks a substantial evolution over its predecessors, positioning it as a cornerstone of India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defense technology.
The Nagastra-3, currently in the prototype phase, is being crafted as part of the Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), a program aimed at delivering highly accurate, long-range strike capabilities to the Indian armed forces. Unlike traditional munitions, loitering munitions—or “suicide drones”—like the Nagastra-3 combine the flexibility of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with the destructive power of precision-guided weapons. Designed to hover over a target area for extended periods before executing a kamikaze-style strike, the Nagastra-3 offers a tactical edge in engaging high-value or mobile targets in contested environments.
With a range of 100 kilometers, the Nagastra-3 can strike deep into enemy territory, far surpassing the capabilities of its predecessors, the Nagastra-1 and Nagastra-2. Its endurance of over five hours allows for prolonged surveillance and loitering, enabling operators to identify and engage targets with minimal risk to personnel. This extended operational window, coupled with its tube- or catapult-launch versatility, makes the Nagastra-3 adaptable to a variety of combat scenarios, from anti-personnel missions to strikes against critical infrastructure.
The development of the Nagastra-3 under the Make-I framework—a category that encourages indigenous design and development with government funding—underscores India’s broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative. Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, leveraging the expertise of its parent company Solar Industries, has emerged as a key player in this push. The Nagastra series builds on the success of the Nagastra-1, inducted by the Indian Army in 2024 with over 75% indigenous content, and the Nagastra-2, which introduced enhanced portability and warhead options.
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