NEW DELHI, — The Indian Army is set to begin field trials of indigenous jet-powered kamikaze drones at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan this week. The trials are part of a ₹2,000 crore Fast Track Procurement (FTP) programme to acquire 540 high-speed loitering munitions.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the Jet Based Kamikaze Drone System (JBKDS) on October 26, 2026, according to reports. The procurement is restricted to Indian companies to support domestic defence manufacturing.
11 Indian Companies Shortlisted
Around 60 companies responded to the Army's Request for Information (RFI) issued in July 2026. Of these, 18 submitted bids, while 11 advanced through the qualification process.
The shortlisted companies include Bharat Forge-VEDA Aeronautics, Adani Defence, NIBE, SMPP-NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), Tonbo, Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Apollo Micro Systems.
The Army is seeking a complete operational package covering the drones, dedicated transport vehicles and mission planning systems.
Jet-Powered Drones Offer Higher Speed
The proposed drones can reach speeds of approximately 450 kmph, compared with 150–200 kmph for conventional propeller-driven loitering munitions. Their higher speed reduces the time available for enemy air defence systems to detect, track and intercept them, making them suitable for rapid precision strikes.
SMPP Has Already Delivered 106 Drones
India has already received jet-powered kamikaze drones from domestic manufacturer SMPP. The company completed delivery of 106 Peacekeeper (Agniveg) drones to the Indian Army, including 100 operational units and six training drones.
The turbojet-powered system has demonstrated speeds of up to 450 kmph and an operational range of approximately 180 km. VEDA Aeronautics has also developed the Sureshastra Mk-1 jet-powered loitering munition for Indian Air Force programmes.
The new 540-unit procurement programme will allow the Army to evaluate different indigenous designs and expand the number of qualified domestic suppliers. It is also aimed at developing India's industrial capacity for producing high-speed precision-strike drones.
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