Solar delivers indigenous 'Nagastra-2' anti-tank loiter munitions to Indian Army

Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), based in Nagpur, is delivering its indigenous Nagastra-2 anti-tank loitering munition system to the Indian Army, marking another step towards strengthening India's domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.

The Nagastra-2 system is equipped with day-and-night surveillance cameras and a 4 kg tandem shaped-charge warhead designed to penetrate targets protected by up to 650 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA).

According to the company, the system has an operational range of up to 25 km in recover-and-reuse mode and 50 km in fire-and-forget mode. It can remain airborne for up to 60 minutes, providing operational flexibility for precision engagement of armoured targets.

A key feature of Nagastra-2 is its Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capability, which is designed to improve its resilience in electronically contested battlefield environments. The technology is intended to help the system operate amid electronic warfare threats, including communication jamming, GPS jamming and spoofing.

Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited stated that Nagastra-2 successfully completed technical trials at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR) in August 2026. During the trials, users witnessed the system's operational performance and compliance with ECCM requirements.

The delivery highlights India's continued efforts to develop advanced indigenous defence technologies and reduce dependence on foreign military equipment.

In 2025, the Indian Army placed an order with SDAL for approximately 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions, according to the company's statement.

The Nagastra-1R features a reusable launcher system and a 360-degree gimbal camera, with an optional thermal camera for night operations. It also incorporates proprietary encryption for video and telemetry communications, alongside a high-precision targeting system with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of two metres.

The company further stated that the Nagastra-1R has more than 80 per cent indigenous content, reflecting efforts to expand domestic participation in defence production.

The introduction of Nagastra-2 builds on these developments, supporting the Indian Army's efforts to strengthen its precision-strike capabilities through locally developed loitering munition systems. Such systems can provide surveillance and precision engagement capabilities while supporting the broader objective of self-reliance in defence manufacturing.