Nagastra-1

The Nagastra-1 is a man-portable fixed-wing loitering munition developed in India by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, in collaboration with the Bengaluru startup Z-Motion Autonomous Systems. Designed for reconnaissance and precision strike against point targets, it entered Indian Army service in June 2024 and was used operationally during Operation Sindoor. The company states the system contains over 75% indigenous content.

Development

Development was prompted by the employment of loitering munitions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Red Sea crisis, alongside Chinese acquisition of suicide drones and drone incidents along India's borders with Pakistan. The design is based on Z-Motion Autonomous Systems' Trinetra loitering munition. On 24 April 2023, Solar Industries announced that EEL had won a ₹212 crore Ministry of Defence contract for loitering munitions, defeating Poland's WB Electronics Warmate and Israel's UVision Air; Nagastra-1 was assessed as 40% cheaper than the imported alternatives. A pre-delivery inspection of the first batch of 120 units was completed at the Army Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon, between 20 and 25 May 2024. A further 480 units were delivered in December 2024, and on 23 June 2025 the Indian Army ordered 450 Nagastra-1R rounds. Field trials of the 1R variant were conducted at Babina and in Ladakh.

Design

The complete weapon system weighs 30 kg and is carried in two backpacks, comprising the munition, communication control, a portable ground control station and a pneumatic launcher. The air vehicle weighs 8–9 kg and is driven by two electric motors, giving a low acoustic signature that makes it difficult to detect above 200 m. Endurance was initially 30 minutes and has since been extended to 60 minutes. Range is 15 km under man-in-the-loop control and 30–40 km in autonomous mode, with operation possible above 4,500 m. Guidance in kamikaze mode uses GPS/NavIC satellite navigation with an accuracy of 2 m CEP. Sensors include day and night surveillance cameras; the 1R adds a 360-degree gimbal camera, an optional thermal camera and proprietary encryption for video and telemetry links. A parachute recovery system allows mission abort and reuse.

Armament

The munition carries a 1–1.5 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead intended for soft-skin targets. Attacks can be modified or cancelled in mid-flight, permitting selective engagement of moving or concealed targets.

Variants

• Nagastra-1: Baseline man-portable loitering munition with a 1–1.5 kg HE fragmentation warhead and 15–40 km range.
• Nagastra-1R: Improved variant with 360-degree gimbal camera, optional thermal camera, encrypted datalinks and over 80% indigenous content.
• Nagastra-2: 12 kg munition carrying a 2.2–4 kg anti-tank/anti-personnel warhead, with a man-in-the-loop range beyond 25 km and 90 minutes loiter, intended against armoured targets.
• Nagastra-3: Component of the Medium Range Precision Kill System under Make-I of DAP 2020, with a projected range of 100 km and endurance over five hours.