New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Union Ministry of Defence has formally kicked off the procurement process for an advanced fleet of ship-launched loitering munitions, issuing a comprehensive Request for Information to military suppliers. Designed to operate directly from the decks of Indian Naval surface vessels, these medium-range platforms—commonly known as kamikaze or suicide drones—represent a significant shift in maritime warfare by merging real-time aerial surveillance capabilities with the lethal accuracy of precision-guided warheads.
According to technical criteria specified in the procurement documentation, the naval authorities are seeking stealthy platforms capable of striking surface vessels as well as shore-based positions at distances exceeding 1,000 kilometres. The requested performance benchmarks mandate an operational endurance of over nine hours, cruising speeds above 75 knots, and a terminal attack dive speed surpassing 200 knots. To minimize detection by hostile radar networks, the aircraft must incorporate a low radar cross-section design and maintain an operating ceiling of up to 15,000 feet.
To ensure seamless mission execution across all weather conditions and times of day, each munition will feature an integrated electro-optical and forward-looking infrared imaging seeker package alongside a day camera. The systems are also required to possess robust electronic protection mechanisms, including autonomous navigation along pre-programmed coordinates, automatic return protocols during data-link disruption, and fail-safe diversion pathways to prevent unintended strikes. Crucially, the operational framework demands dynamic in-flight hand-off capability, enabling control of a deployed munition to be transferred seamlessly between different warships or shore-based command units.
This strategic acquisition aligns with a broader global movement among modern navies to integrate cost-effective, high-precision loitering munitions into surface fleets, a trend accelerated by recent international conflicts. Managed under the Defence Acquisition Procedure, the tendering priorities focus on domestic manufacturing categories such as Buy Indian-IDDM to advance the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at strengthening self-reliance within the national defence sector.
