Indian Navy To Acquire New Class Of Ship-Launched Kamikaze Drones That Can Hit Targets 1000 Km Away

The Indian Ministry of Defence is planning to acquire ship-launched, long-range “kamikaze” drones to equip warships with medium-range loitering munitions.

Through this move, the government wants to provide naval ships with low-cost, long-range capabilities which would bridge the gap between reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided missiles.

When launched, the drones can hunt for targets across land and water before they execute a dive attack. The Navy wants the drones to possess an operational range of at least 1,000 kilometres and a loitering endurance of 9 hours or more.

They should also maintain a cruising speed of over 75 knots and reach terminal attack dive speeds of more than 200 knots with an altitude limit of up to 15,000 feet.

To avoid being detected by adversaries, the drones would have a low radar cross-section design. However, it would identify targets both during the day and at night using an electro-optical and infrared seeker which would combine cameras used during the day along with infrared imaging.

Another requirement is that the drone must be able to navigate its path autonomously, without any commands, so it can operate in enemy territory.

If there is a connection loss between the drone and operator, then it should automatically come back to the last reported coordinates of its control terminal or search for a safe place to self-terminate so that it does not fly to unintended regions.

Additionally, the drone’s system should be such that it can transfer its control between different vessels or land-based operators.

India’s move to get autonomous drones which can be launched from a ship and that can shift their control seamlessly is not a unique move, but rather something which many navies are currently doing to counter emerging threats.

This is the result of a shift in naval warfare, and also the success of these drones witnessed in conflicts like the Russian war with Ukraine or the Iranian War involving the U.S and Israel. They offer a viable alternative to using thousands of dollars of missiles or risking the lives of crew members.