Date: December 19, 2025
Status: Advanced proposal stage | Approval expected late December 2025
HEADLINE STORY
India’s military is making a strategic pivot toward drone-centric warfare. The Indian Army is set to acquire 850 indigenous kamikaze (loitering munition) drones valued at ₹2,000 crore in a landmark procurement that underscores the armed forces’ shift toward modern asymmetric warfare capabilities. The move represents a watershed moment in India’s defense modernization and reflects hard-learned lessons from recent operational success.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Immediate Timeline
- Proposal currently at advanced stage before Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
- Expected approval during DAC meeting scheduled for the last week of December 2025
- Implementation via fast-track procurement procedures
- Drones sourced exclusively from indigenous manufacturers
Scale of Ambition
- Initial procurement: 850 loitering munitions with launchers
- Long-term induction target: 30,000 such systems across all combat formations
- Multi-service deployment: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Forces
- Organizational structure: Each infantry battalion to establish dedicated “Ashni platoon” for drone operations
Indigenous Focus
- Complete reliance on domestic manufacturers (including InsideFPV Ventures and Maharshi Industries)
- Unit cost: approximately $400 per drone
- Alignment with “Make in India” defense initiative
- Strategy to reduce import dependency and boost local defense industry
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT: OPERATION SINDOOR
The procurement decision is explicitly driven by India’s recent counter-terrorism operation. Key operational metrics:
- Trigger: Pahalgam terror attack claiming 26 civilian lives
- Drone Performance: Successfully neutralized 7 of 9 identified terrorist targets in Pakistan and PoK
- Capabilities Demonstrated: Precision strikes, surveillance, minimal collateral damage
- Scalability Evidence: Drones proved effective even when Pakistani military intervened in defense of terror elements
- Lesson Learned: Loitering munitions are cost-effective force multipliers suitable for asymmetric warfare
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
Military Doctrine Shift The acquisition signals India’s transition toward distributed, drone-enabled combat across all service branches. Rather than centralized platforms, the strategy emphasizes equipping every infantry battalion with organic drone capabilities. This represents a fundamental restructuring of ground combat doctrine.
Counter-Terrorism Focus With each infantry battalion gaining an Ashni platoon, India is building institutional capacity for sustained counter-terror operations. The system is optimized for rapid deployment, surveillance, and precision strikes against non-state actors in complex terrain—critical for operations in Kashmir, Northeast India, and border regions.
Economic Efficiency At ₹2,000 crore for 850 units (approximately ₹2.35 crore per drone), the per-unit cost is remarkably economical. This pricing enables massive scaled deployment, making the target of 30,000 loitering munitions financially feasible and operationally scalable.
Self-Reliance & Industrial Development The decision to source exclusively from indigenous manufacturers strengthens India’s domestic defense industrial base, reduces foreign currency outflows, and supports emerging defense tech startups. Success here could position India as a regional drone technology exporter.
BROADER CONTEXT
Regional Dynamics
- Reflects ongoing security challenges along Pakistan border and terrorism concerns
- Demonstrates India’s willingness to employ unmanned systems for precision operations
- Signals technological advancement in asymmetric warfare capability
- Fits within India’s broader military modernization strategy
Global Trends
- Aligns with worldwide shift toward loitering munitions (Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, Ukraine-Russia precedents)
- Indicates India’s integration into 21st-century warfare paradigms
- Positions India as a significant player in drone warfare technology development
CRITICAL QUESTIONS & CONSIDERATIONS
Technical Viability
- Can indigenous manufacturers scale production to 30,000 units?
- Will quality and reliability meet operational demands?
- How will training and maintenance infrastructure keep pace with expansion?
Operational Integration
- How quickly can Ashni platoons be fully operationalized?
- What is the learning curve for infantry battalion commanders unfamiliar with drone operations?
- Will command-and-control systems prove robust in contested environments?
International Implications
- How will Pakistan and China perceive this capability expansion?
- Are there precedents for international pushback against loitering munition deployments?
- Could this trigger a regional arms race in drone technology?
WHAT THIS MEANS
This isn’t merely a procurement announcement—it represents India’s strategic decision to fundamentally restructure its ground combat capabilities around distributed drone networks. The move validates lessons from Operation Sindoor while signaling confidence in indigenous defense manufacturing. If successfully executed, it could make India’s armed forces significantly more responsive, efficient, and lethal in counter-terrorism operations while reducing reliance on foreign military technology.
The 30,000-unit target, if achieved, would create one of the world’s largest loitering munition arsenals and position India as a formidable player in modern asymmetric warfare.
Status: Awaiting formal approval | Expected decision: December 2025
