Op Sindoor effect: Army receives 106 jet-powered kamikaze drones from defence firm SMPP

The Indian Army has received 106 jet-powered loitering munitions (also called kamikaze drones) from a Delhi-based defence firm, under emergency procurement o...

What Happened

The Indian Army has received 106 jet-powered loitering munitions (also called kamikaze drones) from a Delhi-based defence firm, under emergency procurement orders placed in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor (May 2025).
The consignment comprises 100 strike drones and 6 training variants, designated the "Peacekeeper" (also referred to as "Agniveg" in domestic branding).
The drone has a range of approximately 180 km, a maximum speed of 450 km/hour, and a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than five metres, enabling precision strikes against point targets.
The system is capable of operating in GPS-denied and electronically jammed or spoofed environments — a direct lesson from the contested electronic warfare environment encountered in Operation Sindoor.
The base design originates from a Belarusian manufacturer (KB Indela), with Indian technology transfer underway: the domestic supplier has localised munition components and intends to manufacture the jet propulsion system indigenously in subsequent phases.
Emergency allocations of approximately ₹9,000 crore have reportedly been directed toward UAVs, loitering munitions, and counter-drone systems in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

Static Topic Bridges

Loitering Munitions — Definition, Typology, and Operational Role

A loitering munition (also called a "kamikaze drone" or "suicide drone") is an unmanned aerial system that can autonomously or semi-autonomously loiter over a target area for an extended period before delivering a warhead by crashing into the target. Unlike conventional missiles, loitering munitions can abort an attack and re-loiter if identification is uncertain, and unlike multi-use drones, they expend themselves in the strike. They fill the capability gap between short-range artillery and long-range precision missiles — particularly effective against command posts, radar installations, logistics hubs, and mobile armour.

Typology: First-Person View (FPV) drones (short range, low cost), jet-powered loitering munitions (longer range, higher speed), and tube-launched variants
CEP (Circular Error Probable): The radius within which 50% of munitions will impact the target — a standard precision measure; less than 5 metres classifies as high-precision strike
GPS-denied operation: Achieved through inertial navigation systems (INS) or visual/terrain-aided navigation, critical in electronic warfare environments
Operational utility: Identified as a transformative capability in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza conflicts before Indian adoption accelerated post-Sindoor

Connection to this news: The Peacekeeper induction addresses a specific capability gap highlighted during Operation Sindoor — the need for cost-effective precision strike systems against hardened or fleeting targets that are too risky or disproportionate to engage with full-scale missiles.

Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence and the Emergency Procurement Route

The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 establishes a tiered categorisation for procurement, with "Buy Indian" (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured — IDDM) at the highest priority and "Buy Global" at the lowest. Emergency procurement — used in the current drone induction — is a fast-track route authorised under DAP 2020 that bypasses certain stages of the procurement process to address urgent operational needs. India's defence export target is ₹50,000 crore by 2029, and domestic production target is ₹3 lakh crore by the same year.

DAP 2020: Replaced the earlier Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP); greater emphasis on indigenisation
Categories under DAP 2020: Buy-IDDM, Buy-Indian, Buy and Make (Indian), Buy and Make, Buy Global with Technology Transfer, Buy Global
Emergency procurement: Used for urgent operational requirements; reduced procedural timelines
iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence): Scheme under which many drone startups have received funding and trials for rapid induction
The Indian Army has drawn up plans to induct nearly 30,000 loitering munitions of varying ranges and capabilities over the medium term
₹2,000-crore procurement of 850 kamikaze drones is separately under a fast-track acquisition process

Connection to this news: The SMPP procurement illustrates the tension within Atmanirbhar Bharat policy: the base system is Belarusian, but technology transfer is contracted to progressively indigenise components — a "Buy and Make" model adapted for emergency timelines.

Operation Sindoor — Defence Technology and Warfare Lessons

Operation Sindoor (launched May 7, 2025) was a cross-border precision strike operation in response to a terrorist attack on civilians. It was notable for the scale and integration of drone warfare: unmanned systems were used for reconnaissance, electronic warfare suppression, and precision strike in a high-threat, contested airspace environment. Defence analysts identified several capability gaps exposed by the operation, driving emergency procurement across UAVs, counter-drone systems, loitering munitions, and communication hardening. Post-Sindoor, the Defence Secretary indicated that drone systems that passed operational trials would receive fast-track contracts.

Operation Sindoor: Launched May 7, 2025; four-day operation targeting terrorist camps
Key lessons: Need for GPS-resilient navigation; large-scale, cost-effective drone production; grassroots integration of FPV drones at battalion level; counter-drone capability as essential as offensive drone capability
Emergency allocations post-Sindoor: approximately ₹9,000 crore for UAVs, loitering munitions, counter-drone systems
India's drone defence ecosystem: Growing cluster of private firms (SMPP, InsideFPV, ideaForge, among others) now receiving Army contracts

Connection to this news: The 106-drone delivery is a direct consequence of Sindoor lessons — the Army identified loitering munitions as a priority capability and used emergency procurement to rapidly induct systems while indigenisation catches up.

Key Facts & Data

Peacekeeper (Agniveg) specs: range ~180 km, speed 450 km/hour (450 km/hour current; 750 km/hour next generation offered), CEP less than 5 metres
Consignment: 100 strike drones + 6 training UAVs = 106 total
Supplier: SMPP (Delhi-based); base design: KB Indela (Belarus)
Operation Sindoor: May 7–10, 2025; targeted nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
Post-Sindoor emergency defence allocation: approximately ₹9,000 crore (UAVs, loitering munitions, counter-drone)
Indian Army medium-term target: approximately 30,000 loitering munitions of varying ranges
Separate fast-track procurement: 850 kamikaze drones, approximately ₹2,000 crore
DAP 2020 prioritisation: Buy-IDDM highest; Buy Global lowest
India defence export target: ₹50,000 crore by 2029