Indian Army inducts Nagastra-1, country’s first ‘Kamikaze drone’
New Delhi: In a step towards self-reliance in the defense sector, the Indian Army has inducted Nagastra-1, the country's first indigenously developed loitering munition, on Friday. With 75% of its components sourced locally, the ‘Kamikaze drone’ marks a major milestone in India's defense capabilities.
Nagastra-1, also known as a ‘suicide drone,’ is designed to loiter around a target area and then strike by crashing into the specific target. Combining features of a cruise missile and a combat drone, it can hit targets up to 15 kilometers away with a 1.5 kg warhead and has an autonomous mode range of 30 kilometers. The drone is GPS-enabled and lightweight, allowing a single soldier to carry it across various terrains. Weighing 9 kilograms, the fixed-wing electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has an endurance of 30 minutes.
The drone's unique electric propulsion system ensures it operates with a low acoustic signature, making it virtually undetectable when flying at heights above 200 meters. Developed in collaboration with Z-motion Autonomous Systems Private Ltd, a Bengaluru-based company, the system includes a ground control station, communication controls, payload, and a pneumatic launcher.
Equipped with night-vision cameras, Nagastra-1 can operate effectively in darkness. Although designed to explode on the target, it can be recovered for reuse by aborting the mission mid-air. It also features a parachute recovery system, setting it apart from similar drones used globally. Recent conflicts in regions such as Russia, Ukraine, and Yemen have seen extensive use of drone technologies, highlighting their strategic importance.
Produced by Solar Industries, Nagpur, Nagastra-1 is a notable addition to India's military arsenal. The Army has placed an order for 480 units of the drone. A pre-delivery inspection of Nagastra-1 was conducted from May 21-25, after which 120 units were delivered to the Army ammunition depot at Pulgaon, near Wardha in Maharashtra.
With a hit accuracy of 2 meters, the Indian Army aims to enhance its striking capabilities against enemy training camps and launch pads across the borders, as well as effectively neutralize infiltrators.
#WATCH | The first indigenous Loitering Munition, Nagastra–1, developed by Solar Industries, Nagpur, has been delivered to the Indian Army
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2024
Nagastra -1, in a 'kamikaze mode' can neutralize any hostile threat with GPS-enabled precision strike with an accuracy of 2m. The… pic.twitter.com/kWeehBMGvW
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Miscreants decamp with 70 kg silver articles from jewellery shop in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Unidentified miscreants allegedly broke into a jewellery shop here and decamped with approximately 70 kg of silver articles worth crores of rupees, police said on Friday.
The incident was reported at a jewellery shop near 8th Mile, Havanur, on April 28, they said.
According to police, the accused are suspected to have entered the premises from the rear after breaking open the lock and drilling a hole through the wall of the shop.
The incident came to light at around 7 am on April 28 when shop staff opened the premises and discovered signs of forced entry and extensive damage to the rear section of the building, following which they alerted police authorities.
Preliminary estimates indicate that around 70 kg of silver articles, worth crores, were stolen. Most of the silver items displayed in the cupboards were taken, while valuables kept in the locker remained intact, a senior police officer said.
Police said CCTV cameras inside the shop were not functioning. Efforts are underway to identify the suspects using footage from cameras installed in the vicinity.
The miscreants also allegedly took away the Digital Video Recorder (of CCTV) of an adjacent shop, the officer added.
Investigators are also examining the tools and techniques used to gain access to the shop, suspecting the involvement of a professional gang with prior knowledge of the store layout.
A case has been registered at Bagalagunte Police Station, and further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the accused, police said.
