Indian Army Prepares ₹2,000-Crore Loitering Munition Blitz To Strike Deep Inside Enemy Territory
An Indian Army loitering munition in flight reflects the force’s push toward indigenous, precision drone strike capabilities for future battlefields. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
In a major boost to India’s evolving drone warfare doctrine, the Indian Army is set to float a ₹2,000-crore tender for an indigenous family of loitering munitions capable of conducting precision strikes deep inside enemy territory, even in heavily jammed and spoofed electronic warfare environments.
According to sources familiar with the development, the mega procurement, expected to be initiated shortly, marks a decisive shift towards self-reliance in high-end unmanned strike systems.
While the initial contract value stands at ₹2,000 crore, the programme is likely to expand significantly in the coming years as the Army plans to equip multiple units with both shallow- and deep-strike loitering munitions for cross-border operations.
The tender will be issued under the fast-track procurement procedure, enabling the Army to conduct trials, shortlist vendors and place orders within months, instead of the traditional acquisition cycle that can stretch up to two years.
Under the plan, two Indian companies will be selected, with the final order split in a 60:40 ratio between the two lowest bidders who successfully meet operational specifications and clear user trials.
The focus on indigenous platforms is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while simultaneously creating a scalable domestic industrial ecosystem capable of surge production during conflict.
Once awarded, the contract is expected to catalyse large-scale manufacturing of loitering munitions within India.
Major Indian defence firms already active in this domain, including Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, and Newspace Research and Technologies, are expected to compete aggressively. Other likely bidders include Nibe Defence, Avision and SMPP.
The move aligns with Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s vision of rapidly integrating drones and loitering munitions into frontline formations.
Last year, he announced plans to raise specialised drone units and unveiled the ambitious “Eagle on Every Arm” concept, aimed at equipping every soldier with organic drone capability, underscoring the Army’s push to dominate future battlefields through unmanned systems.
