DRDO Prioritises Affordable Precision Strike Capability for Indian UAV Fleet India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation is pursuing an economical precision-guided missile designed specifically for future unmanned combat platforms. Weighing only 10–15 kg, the proposed weapon integrates INS navigation with anti-spoofing SAASM-enabled satellite guidance, improving resilience against electronic warfare and GPS interference. Although its compact 1–2 kg warhead limits its ability to defeat heavily armoured tanks through frontal attack, the missile remains highly suitable for engaging artillery, radar stations, logistics assets, bunkers, command centres, and lightly armoured vehicles. Alternative warhead options, including fragmentation or thermobaric designs, could further expand its operational utility. The missile’s small size allows MALE, HALE, and UCAV platforms to carry significantly larger payloads than conventional anti-tank weapons, increasing mission endurance and battlefield effectiveness. By emphasising affordability, precision, and electronic resilience, DRDO aims to provide India’s future drone fleet with an effective indigenous strike capability suitable for modern network-centric warfare.
