Development of Indigenous Drone Ecosystem: Evaluating India’s Long-Range Kamikaze Drone Program

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Policy Update
Kavin Adithya CB

Introduction

Technological progress has revolutionized warfare, and unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have become an important element of military operations. Being initially used for ISR purposes, drones have acquired multiple functions, including conducting precision strikes, electronic warfare, targeting, and combat support. Loitering munitions, otherwise known as kamikaze drones, which are a subset of drones, have played a prominent role in modern warfare. In contrast to conventional missiles, which have a pre-planned flight path, loitering munitions can stay in the air above a particular area, locate a target, and deliver an attack only after receiving a green light from the operator. Such ability to incorporate surveillance and strike functions has increased operational flexibility while lowering the cost of engagement with valuable targets.

The military effectiveness of kamikazes has been proved in recent wars, such as the one between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the war between Russia and Ukraine. These technologies have succeeded in eliminating armored vehicles, radar, command posts, and logistics infrastructure at relatively low costs compared to other precision-guided systems. Therefore, countries such as Israel, China, Turkey, and the USA are actively investing in indigenous drones to increase their capabilities and technological superiority.

Due to the changing situation in the region, it has become increasingly important for India to develop indigenous capabilities of unmanned combat systems. The development of China’s unmanned military technologies and acquisition of loitering munitions by Pakistan have led to new challenges for India along its borders both terrestrial and marine. In addition, the use of imported equipment may limit technological autonomy, impede updating of capabilities, and jeopardize national security due to the disruption of the supply chain. Thus, India needs to develop its own drone ecosystem in order to meet its defense needs in the future.

To address this problem, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a project of the Indigenous One-Way Attack Unmanned Aerial System (OWA-UAS) under the guidance of the 5 Base Repair Depot (5 BRD), Tamil Nadu. Developed in cooperation with the DRDO, private defense companies, start-ups, and educational institutions, the program is designed to develop indigenous capabilities in the creation, manufacturing, updating, and future modernization of long-range kamikaze drones. Apart from meeting Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, the program should help India improve its operational preparedness for future wars. It will be argued in this paper that the program is a strategically important step towards defense self-reliance; however, its success in the long run will depend on many factors.

Functioning:

The indigenous long-range kamikaze drone is engineered to combine autonomous navigation and human control in order to ensure the precision of operations and mission flexibility. Firstly, the mission starts with the launch of the drone using a ground-launched rocket. After launch, it flies towards the predefined operational area using GPS/INS. The GPS provides satellite positioning while the INS measures the velocity, course, and attitude of the drone on the fly.

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Having reached the designated area, the drone does not start attacking a target but goes into loitering, it stays in air while using electro-optical and infrared sensors to observe the battlefield. The data received by the sensors is transmitted to mission operators, thus providing them with real-time intelligence about enemy activities and helping to identify strategic targets. Having verified the target, operators give permission to engage the target which improves the accuracy of operations and reduces the possibility of damaging anything unintentionally.

Finally, after getting a mission confirmation, the drone autonomously navigates towards the target and destroys it with a direct impact. This kind of attack can be especially helpful for destroying high value and time sensitive targets such as radars, command posts, communications centers, or ammunition dumps.

Future models of the indigenous system will have an option to abort and return home in case there is no target or mission priorities have changed. It will allow for better utilization of the resources, less loss of equipment and, consequently, higher operational flexibility of the drone.

Performance

The long-range kamikaze drone programme of indigenous nature serves as an important milestone in developing Indian defence capabilities along with self-reliance in advanced military technologies.

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 The amount of investment of the Government of India in unmanned technologies is steadily growing, as the country allocates about ₹3,300 crore for drone technology from approximately ₹800 crore in 2020-21 to 2024-25. The increase in the funds allocated to the development of unmanned technologies shows the understanding of the fact that unmanned systems are key components in modern military operations.

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From an operational perspective, the drone is designed to satisfy the security needs of India. The operational ceiling of about 16,000 feet makes it possible to use the drone in the territory of high altitude, for instance, in the territory of the Himalayan border where conventional platforms cannot be used due to specific geographical and climatic conditions. The payload capacity of about 30 kg allows the drone to attack different tactical targets which increases the operational capabilities of the system during precision strike missions.

The most powerful feature of the platform is loitering time which enables the operators to observe the battlefield before attacking the target. This feature helps the operators to make rational decisions, verify the targets, and prevent collateral damage. In addition, the extended loitering capabilities are useful in dynamic combat situations when the enemy changes his position constantly. The conventional missiles do not have the opportunity to change their targets after launching, and therefore, the loitering capability is more flexible for time-sensitive operations.

The drone can conduct missions both in daytime and nighttime conditions as well as different weather conditions. It is equipped with the autonomous navigation system and electro-optical and infrared sensors which help to increase the reliability of missions and decrease the workload of the operator. Besides precision strikes, the platform is able to conduct ISR missions, communication relays, and post-strike assessments.

However, despite its positive features, the programme should be assessed not only according to its technical specification but also its strategic needs of India. China and Israel are countries with the developed ecosystem of drones which includes constant technological innovation, mass production, and fast capability upgrades. Although India has successfully started the programme of development, it needs continued investment, faster induction, and technological upgrading in the future.

Impact

The indigenous long-range kamikaze drone program by Impact India will radically reshape India’s defence strategy, economy, and future position in world affairs. By developing these drones locally, India can reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for defence equipment, giving its Armed Forces greater freedom to modify, update, and maintain essential technologies to help ensure national security without being constrained by external impediments. This allows India to assign its own priorities when it comes to the future development of military capabilities. The rapidly evolving regional security environment reinforces the need for India to quickly respond to threats with an indigenous drone capability. 

A successful domestic long-range kamikaze drone programme will enable India to maintain an advantage over prospective adversaries and then protect national interests. In addition to maintaining national security and enhancing military capabilities, self-sufficiency in the manufacture of drones will enable India to reduce costs and enhance the economy. The indigenous long-range kamikaze drone programme also forms part of India’s broader strategy for security and stability in an increasingly turbulent global environment. 

The programme will strengthen India’s defence industry by fostering collaboration and partnerships between the Indian Air Force, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, manufacturers of defence systems, emerging start-up companies, and academic institutions. By fostering collaboration among these diverse players, India will stimulate innovation, expedite the completion of research and development projects, and manufacture a larger volume of products domestically. This collaborative effort will also support the Government of India’s objective to expand the capability of its defence industrial base.

Emerging Issues 

In addition to its strategic potential, the indigenous long-range kamikaze drone programme faces a variety of technological, operational and institutional challenges that could impact its utility for warfare over time. The most pressing issue is the need to nurture the foundational indigenous technologies. High performance batteries, advanced propulsion systems, lightweight composite materials, semiconductors, and secure communication modules; these are critical areas that require substantial investment if we want to keep up with the world leaders in defence technology. Complete self-sufficiency in technology remains a distant goal as several specialised components continue to rely on global supply chains.

Another significant hurdle is electronic warfare. We see more use of GPS jamming, signal spoofing, counterfeit signals and cyberattacks against unmanned systems as we wrestle for spectrum and the electromagnetic bomb. These threats may impact navigation, communications, and mission accomplishment. As such, indigenous drones have to integrate resilient navigation systems, encrypted communications networks and sophisticated anti-jamming technologies to operate effectively in contested environments.

The increasing phenomenon of artificial intelligence on autonomous weapon systems has created ethical and legal alarm bells as well. While AI provides better target recognition and operational efficiencies, reliance on autonomous decision-making creates many questions related to accountability, human oversight and compliance with international humanitarian law. Setting clear rules of the road will be key to ensuring that autonomous capabilities do not deviate from responsible military practice.

The second complicates this by requiring that proven prototypes be developed for large-scale operationalization. One of the reasons for this is that indigenous defence programmes often face substantial delays because testing procedures take a long time, procurement lines get clogged and there are often coordination issues between research institutions, industry partners and the armed forces. The latter is a timing driven issue, as drone technology moves so fast that long development cycles risk operational obsolescence before systems are available for use.

Finally, sustaining a competitive drone ecosystem requires continuous financial support and a highly skilled workforce. Engineers, software specialists, AI researchers, and aerospace professionals are essential for maintaining technological innovation and adapting to changing battlefield requirements. Without sustained investment in human capital and research infrastructure, India’s indigenous drone programme may struggle to keep pace with the rapid advancements achieved by leading global drone manufacturers.

Way Forward

To make India’s drone system strong, we need a plan that works for a long time. This plan should include new technology, working together with industries, and changing the way institutions work. We should focus on spending more money on research and development, especially on things like making drones move, artificial intelligence, secure ways of talking to each other, advanced sensors, semiconductors, and better batteries. If we make these important technologies in our own country, we won’t have to rely on other countries for them, and we will be more in control of our own decisions.

To really boost innovation and get new technologies out to our military faster, we need to get the Indian Air Force, DRDO, private defence companies, start-ups, and universities working together more closely. If we can expand our testing and certification facilities, we can validate new technologies quicker and get indigenous platforms into service faster. This collaboration is key to shortening development timelines and getting the latest technologies to our military when they need them. By working together and investing in the right facilities, we can make a big difference and help our military stay ahead of the curve.

India should also strengthen its electronic warfare and counter-drone capabilities to ensure the survivability of unmanned systems in contested operational environments. Investments in anti-jamming technologies, encrypted communication networks, resilient navigation systems, and cybersecurity will improve mission reliability against emerging electronic threats. Simultaneously, a comprehensive regulatory framework should be developed to ensure that the integration of artificial intelligence into autonomous weapon systems remains consistent with national security objectives and international humanitarian law.

To really make India’s drone industry strong, the country needs to keep supporting local manufacturers with good policies, help them export their products, and work with other countries on defense projects. If India can combine new technology with industrial growth and smart planning, it can create a solid drone system that meets its own security needs and can also sell drones to other countries in the future. This way, India’s drone industry can become a major player globally.

Conclusion

The indigenous long-range kamikaze drone programme represents a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance and military modernisation. Although technological and operational challenges remain, sustained innovation, effective collaboration, and timely capability development can enable India to establish a competitive indigenous drone ecosystem that strengthens national security while enhancing its position in the global defence technology market.

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About the Contributor

Kavin Adithya CB is a Research and Editorial Intern at IMPRI, currently pursuing an M.A. in International Relations at Loyola College, Chennai. I  have a strong Interest in International Political Economy, International Relations, Defence, Public policy, Geopolitics, and Human Rights Strong area of interest to explore and develop my skills. 

Acknowledgement 

The author sincerely thanks the reviewers and editorial team for their valuable comments, constructive suggestions, and guidance. Their feedback helped improve the clarity, structure, and analytical depth of this policy update.

Reviewers: Nayanshi Jain, Ritobrata

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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