Indian Army Kamikaze Drones: India’s defence sector got a fresh push when SMPP, an Indian defence and aerospace maker, signed a teaming agreement with KNDS, a major European defence company. The deal was signed at the Eurosatory defence show in Paris on June 18, 2026. The two sides plan to make advanced loitering munitions in India through a Transfer of Technology arrangement, so the work is not just about buying parts. It is also about learning, building, and producing at home.
What does the deal covers?
The partnership is tied to India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals. SMPP and KNDS want to make these systems inside India and offer them first to the Indian Army, which the companies say has an “urgent requirement” for better precision-strike tools. The agreement also builds on an earlier SMPP-KNDS tie-up from November 2025, when the two companies agreed to work on KNDS’s KATANA precision-guided artillery ammunition for India.
1 in 5 Sailors Worldwide Is Indian: Why Thousands of Young Indians Still Choose Life at Sea
What are Loitering Munitions?
Loitering munitions are often called “kamikaze drones”. These are flying weapons that can stay in the air for some time, look for a target, and then strike when the operator gives the order. They are a mix of a drone and a guided missile. Unlike a normal missile that is fired straight at one target these systems can hover over an area first and wait for the right moment.
- They can watch the battlefield, find targets, and hit them with high accuracy.
- They are useful when a force wants precision but does not want to send a pilot or a big aircraft into danger.
- They are also cheaper than some aircraft operations, which makes them attractive for modern armies that want smart strike power without spending huge amounts every time.
The Systems in the Deal
The SMPP-KNDS partnership covers the VELOCE and RODEUR loitering munition systems, along with the ISTAR family of drones.
- VELOCE is meant for fast strikes and hitting high-value targets.
- RODEUR is built for longer time in the air, so it can stay around a battlefield and wait.
- ISTAR stands for “Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance.”
These drones help armies see what is happening, track enemy movement, and find targets before a strike is made.
How do they Work?
The companies say the systems are designed for “search-and-destroy” use and come with “fire-and-forget” capability. That means the operator can launch the system and let it do much of the work on its own. They also use a navigation setup that mixes GNSS and INS, which helps them stay accurate in tricky places and in contested battle zones. KNDS says it is also building wider drone-linked mission systems at Eurosatory 2026, which fits with its growing push into unmanned and precision tools.
Safran Eyes Up to 60% M88 Engine Localization for India’s 114-Rafale MRFA Deal
Importance of the deal for India
This is not just a defence contract. It is also about making more military gear inside India. That helps local factories, local engineers, and local supply chains. It can reduce India’s need to depend so much on imports for advanced weapons. It also gives Indian industry a chance to learn hard technology from a European partner and build that know-how over time.
The Indian Army has been looking more closely at loitering munitions because modern wars have shown how useful they can be. These weapons can support fast decisions, sharp targeting, and better battlefield reach.
