Indian Army shows off locally manufactured drones (VIDEO)

India’s chief of army staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, witnessed demonstrations of homegrown unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), counter-drone technologies, and loitering munitions (also known as kamikaze drones) on Tuesday. 

The demonstrations took place at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, military officials said. 

“These capabilities will significantly enhance operational efficiency, force protection and precision engagement across varied terrains,” the Indian Army said in a post on X. 

The role of kamikaze drones was hailed during the Indian Army’s recent Operation Sindoor. According to official reports, the weapons allowed precise targeting of Pakistani military infrastructure. 

New Delhi said it was responding to a terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir federal territory in late April which killed 26 tourists. Islamabad has denied any involvement.

The two states have been involved in a dispute over the territory for decades. The recent escalation unfolded on May 7; three days later, after a short but intense battle, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. 

During the conflict, New Delhi said that on the night of May 8-9, Islamabad launched around 300 drone attacks across 36 locations in India. Since then, India has taken a number of measures to bolster its defense capabilities. 

On Tuesday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the “execution model” for developing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with an investment of $175 million. AMCA is the South Asian country’s ambitious project to develop a multi-role combat aircraft with stealth capabilities for the Air Force and Navy.