Indian Army One-Way Attack Drones: The Indian Army has started work on a big new drone plan. It wants indigenous one-way attack drones that can hit targets as far as 1,000 km away. These drones are also called loitering munitions or kamikaze drones. In simple words, they are flying weapons that go to a target and then destroy it by crashing into it. Recent reporting says the Army has begun the procurement process for this long-range system under the Long Range Loiter Munition, or LRLM, programme.
The Army wants a full Indian-made strike system that can work in modern war conditions. The requirements being discussed include AI-enabled targeting, the ability to fly in GPS-denied areas, strong resistance to electronic jamming, and the power to make deep strikes without putting soldiers in direct danger.
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What the Army wants in the New System
The Army’s wish list is very detailed. The drone is expected to have a strike range of up to 1,000 km. It should carry a 25 kg warhead and create a lethal radius of around 50 metres. It should be able to fly above 5,000 metres and move at a speed of at least 400 km per hour. The system should also work without GPS and still find its target with good accuracy.
The Army also wants the drones to handle tough battlefield conditions. Reports say the system should be usable in plains, deserts, jungles, and mountain areas. It should work in harsh weather too. The Army is looking for a rugged weapon that can keep going even when the enemy tries to jam signals or block navigation.
This is meant for deep precision strikes. That means the drone should be able to travel far, stay hidden for a while and then hit the target at the right moment.
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A Full Package
The Army is not asking only for the flying part. The system is expected to come as a full package. That package should include a launch vehicle, a Ground Control Station, a training simulator, and 15 aerial vehicles. Reports also say the Army wants different warhead choices, including thermobaric and deep penetration types, depending on the mission.
The drones may fly low and use complex routes so enemy radar systems have a harder time spotting them. That kind of approach has been used in modern conflicts and is now being studied for Indian needs too. The Army also wants the system to be useful even after tough field conditions and strong opposition from enemy air defences.
Make-II
The project is being moved under the Make-II route. Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure, Make-II is meant for equipment that Indian vendors design, develop and manufacture using their own investment, with no financial support from the Defence Ministry for prototype development. If the system meets the Army’s needs, procurement can follow.
This is also part of a bigger shift in India’s defence planning. The Army has already been working on shorter-range indigenous loitering munitions, and the new 1,000 km programme is a much bigger jump. It shows how fast India is moving toward home-grown drones, smart weapons, and long-range strike systems.
