Capitalising on the strategic advantages demonstrated during the recent Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has accelerated a proposal to procure approximately 850 kamikaze drones, formally known as loitering munitions.
This move is designed to bolster the force's offensive and counter-terror capabilities across diverse operational theatres.
According to a report by ANI, the acquisition proposal is currently in an advanced stage. It is anticipated to receive final approval shortly during a high-level meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), scheduled for the last week of this month.
Fast-Track Procurement for Urgent Operational Needs
Defence sources indicate that this procurement will be executed under the 'fast-track' procedure, highlighting the Army's urgent requirement to expand its inventory of unmanned warfare systems.The plan involves the induction of 850 loitering munitions, complete with their associated launching systems, exclusively from indigenous manufacturers.
This decision aligns with the government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'initiative, ensuring that critical defence systems are not only made in India but also delivered on faster timelines to meet immediate operational demands.
Industry observers suggest that systems such as the Nagastra-1R, developed by Solar Industries, are likely frontrunners for this requirement, given their proven performance in high-altitude conditions during recent trials.
A Doctrinal Shift: The 'Ashni' Platoon
The procurement of these 850 drones is merely the first phase of a comprehensive transformation within the Army's fighting structure.Sources revealed that while the Army already operates a significant number of loitering munitions from various vendors, it intends to induct nearly 30,000 such systems in the near future.
This massive scaling up aims to equip every fighting formation with organic precision-strike capabilities.
In a major organisational restructure to support this doctrine, every infantry battalion will now include a dedicated 'Ashni' platoon.
These specialised platoons will be solely responsible for operating drones to conduct precision strikes against enemy positions and execute surveillance missions during counter-insurgency operations.
Reports suggest that a standard Ashni platoon may comprise a mix of assets, potentially fielding four surveillance drones and six armed (kamikaze) drones.
This decentralised approach ensures that frontline units have immediate access to air assets without needing to wait for support from higher formations.
Validated by Operation Sindoor
The impetus for this rapid expansion comes from the extensive and highly successful deployment of loitering munitions during Operation Sindoor.Launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack—which tragically claimed the lives of 26 civilians—the operation saw the Indian Army utilise drones to target terrorist headquarters situated deep inside Pakistan.
The effectiveness of this strategy was evident on the very first day of the operation, with reports confirming that Indian forces successfully neutralised seven out of nine identified terrorist targets.
The use of loitering munitions allowed the Army to deliver precise, time-sensitive strikes on hostile infrastructure while significantly minimising the risk to its own personnel.
This operational success has now become the reference point for the Army's modernisation, institutionalising drone-centric warfare as a standard component across the three services and special forces.
