Latest news with #Nagastra1
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
After Op Sindoor success, Nagpur's Solar bags Army orders for night-op ‘killer drones'
Nagpur: After Nagastra 1 — the loitering munition that was used during Operation Sindoor — Nagpur's Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SADL) has bagged an order for the advanced version of the system, Nagastra-1R, that's capable of night operations too. The company signed an agreement to supply 450 Nagastra-1R to the Army within one year. This new system is equipped with a thermal camera for night operations apart from a 360 degree gimbal camera. The system has proprietary encryption for video and telemetry communication along with a high-precision targeting system. More than 80% of its components are indigenous, said a note shared with TOI. The system was tested at different locations, including Ladakh for cold weather trials, and Babina near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Loitering munitions are drone-based systems. The drones carry the bombs as payloads, which are dropped after zeroing in on the target. As it hovers around until the target is fixed, it gets the name loitering munitions. The Nagastra-1R also has full re-usability of the launcher systems, said sources. SADL is also developing the Nagastra 2 and Nagastra 3 versions, which have a higher range and can carry a heavier payload. The trials for the two versions are due soon, said sources involved in the project. The order to SADL for the Nagastra 1R loitering munitions comes after it successfully conducted trials for its hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) — Rudrastra — over a week ago. Rudrastra can penetrate deeper into enemy territory and return to the launch point. It has a range of up to 50km and can take a payload of 8kg, with an estimated endurance time of 1.5 hours. The trials were held at Pokhran range. SADL, which is predominantly into making military-grade ammunition, has over the years developed drone-based munition systems. Last month, it also tested its anti-drone system, Bhargavastra, which can attack a swarm of drones with a salvo of 64 mini rockets. Both guided and non-guided versions of the system have been tested. In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an airstrip at SADL's manufacturing facility. The 1,250-metre-long airstrip will cater to its project of building a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Army drone deal: India orders 450 Nagastra-1R units; SDAL touts reusable, precision strike edge
Indian Army places order of 450 NAGASTRA-1R loitering munitions from SDAL (Image credits: ANI) The Indian Army placed an order with solar defence and aerospace limited, SDAL, for approximately 450 units of its NAGASTRA-1R loitering munitions, the company said in a statement. The system is designed to be cost-effective and reusable, with launchers that can be deployed multiple times. The NAGASTRA-1R is equipped with a 360-degree gimbal camera and can optionally include a thermal camera for night-time missions. It features proprietary encryption for both video and telemetry communications and offers high-precision targeting with a circular error probability (CEP) of just 2 metres. The system boasts over 80% indigenous content and has undergone successful field trials in locations such as Ladakh and Babina near Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. In a separate development, SDAL recently completed trials of its hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV, Rudrastra, at the Pokharan Firing Range. Conducted according to Indian Army performance parameters, the UAV demonstrated strong operational capabilities, including vertical takeoff and landing, long endurance, and mission flexibility. The Rudrastra UAV achieved a mission radius of over 50 km with a stable real-time video link and returned to its launch point after covering a total range of more than 170 km. It also successfully deployed a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead, which detonated mid-air at low altitude to achieve lethal effect over a wide area. Earlier, on May 13 and 14, SDAL tested a low-cost hard-kill counter-drone system named 'Bhargavastra' at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur. Designed to tackle drone swarms, the system uses micro-rockets for rapid neutralisation. Trials were conducted under the supervision of senior Army Air Defence (AAD) officials. Similar systems have been extensively used in recent conflicts, particularly in the Ukraine-Russia war and the Armenia-Azerbaijan skirmishes. The Indian armed forces had previously acquired similar systems from foreign vendors at a significantly higher cost. The Nagastra 1 has an indigenous content of over 75%, reducing dependence on foreign sources. Developed entirely in India by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), the Nagastra 1 drones can perform GPS-enabled precision strikes with an accuracy of 2 meters and have a range of nearly 30 the scale of production and the resulting cost reduction, there is a strong potential for exporting the munition to friendly foreign nations seeking similar solutions. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Indigenous ‘Bhargavastra' test-fired successfully
Bhargavastra NAGPUR: After its kamikaze drone Nagastra 1 wreaked havoc during Operation Sindoor, Nagpur's Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL) successfully conducted trials of its anti-drone system , 'Bhargavastra', at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha's Gopalpur in the presence of the Army's air defence brass. The indigenously built 'Bhargavastra' can fire 64 micro rockets in a single salvo, bringing down a swarm of drones and jam UAVs. When it is eventually deployed, a dual-layer drone defence system will be in place, the first layer comprising unguided micro-rockets with high lethality followed, in the second layer, by micro-missiles for precision hits. The system's rockets have higher lethality with a kill radius of 20m. The 'Bhargavastra' trials conducted on Tuesday witnessed rockets fired in both single and salvo mode. All rockets achieved required launch parameters. This proves Bhargavastra's capability in mitigating large-scale drone attacks , as per information accessed by TOI.
