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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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
