Nagpur: Strengthening the Indian Army’s precision-strike capabilities, Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL) on Thursday delivered 21 units of its Nagastra-2 loitering munition system to the Army, marking another milestone in the country’s drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The consignment was dispatched from the company’s facility in the presence of senior SDAL officials. The delivery comes after the system successfully completed technical trials at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR) in August 2026, during which Army personnel witnessed its operational performance and compliance with Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) requirements, according to the company.
Nagastra-2 is designed to engage armoured targets with precision and offers operational flexibility through its recover-and-reuse and fire-and-forget modes. The system has an operational range of up to 25 km in recover-and-reuse mode and 50 km in fire-and-forget mode, with an endurance of up to 60 minutes.
Equipped with day-and-night surveillance cameras, the loitering munition carries a 4-kg tandem shaped-charge warhead capable of penetrating targets protected by up to 650 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA). These features are intended to enhance its effectiveness against armoured targets in demanding battlefield conditions.
A key feature of Nagastra-2 is its ECCM capability, designed to improve operational resilience in electronically contested environments. The technology is intended to help the system withstand electronic warfare threats, including communication jamming, GPS jamming and spoofing, which can disrupt the performance of unmanned and precision-guided systems on the modern battlefield.
The latest delivery adds to SDAL’s growing contribution to India’s indigenous defence ecosystem, as the armed forces increasingly seek technology-driven systems developed and manufactured within the country.
Earlier order for Nagastra-1R
SDAL has also secured an order from the Indian Army for approximately 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions in 2025, according to the company.
Nagastra-1R features a reusable launcher system and a 360-degree gimbal camera, with an optional thermal camera for night operations. The system uses proprietary encryption for video and telemetry communications and has a claimed targeting accuracy of two metres Circular Error Probable (CEP).
The company has stated that Nagastra-1R incorporates more than 80 per cent indigenous content, underlining the emphasis on domestic technology and manufacturing in the development of the system.
According to SDAL, the Nagastra-1R systems have undergone testing at multiple locations, including Ladakh and Babina near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
With the delivery of Nagastra-2 and its earlier Nagastra-1R order, the Nagpur-based defence manufacturer continues to expand its role in supplying indigenous loitering munition technology to the Indian Army. The systems are designed to support precision engagement while addressing the operational challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated battlefield environments.
