According to the Ministry of Defence, this procurement is being carried out through a fast-track process under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ categoryThis means priority has been given to the participation of the Indian industry, and the process has been expeditedThis move will also provide a significant boost to the Indian defence industry.
Published: August 14, 2026, 11:09 PM IST
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New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence took a major step on Friday to further strengthen the strike capabilities and operational effectiveness of the Indian Army’s artillery regimentsThe Ministry signed two contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Naib Private Limited for the procurement of ‘Loitering Munition Systems’ for the Indian ArmyThese are highly lethal unmanned drone weapon systems, commonly referred to as ‘Kamikaze drones’ or ‘suicide drones’.
Loitering Munition System
The Ministry of Defence stated that the necessary ammunition and other auxiliary equipment would also be procured alongside these systemsThe contracts were signed in New Delhi on August 14 in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar SinghThis significant initiative will bolster the capabilities of the artillery regimentsThe ‘Loitering Munition System’ is a crucial piece of military equipment designed to enhance the operational prowess of the Army’s artillery units; its induction will help strengthen the Army’s overall operational effectiveness.
Procurement being carried out under the ‘Buy Indian’ category
According to the Ministry of Defence, this procurement is being carried out through a fast-track process under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ categoryThis means priority has been given to the participation of the Indian industry, and the process has been expeditedThis move will also provide a significant boost to the Indian defence industryThe significance of these contracts, valued at Rs 1,577 crore, extends beyond merely providing modern military systems to the Army; it will also strengthen domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
Significant step towards modernizing the Indian defence industry
The Ministry of Defence described this procurement as a significant step towards modernizing and enhancing the capabilities of the Indian defence industryIt will encourage the domestic manufacturing of defence systems and further strengthen the role of Indian industryThe Ministry highlighted this procurement as a prime example of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiativeThese agreements with Indian companies are expected to strengthen the country’s defense production capabilitiesAmidst growing indigenous capacity in the defense sector, this procurement worth Rs 1,577 crore is considered a significant milestone for both the modernization of the Indian Army and the domestic defense industry.
(With IANS inputs)
