On March 30, 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited facility in Nagpur, where he inaugurated a state-of-the-art Loitering Munition Test Range and a runway facility for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones. The event marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence technology under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, reinforcing the country’s commitment to indigenous innovation and reducing dependence on imported military hardware.
The Loitering Munition Test Range, designed to test advanced unmanned aerial systems, including kamikaze drones or loitering munitions, is a game-changer for India’s defence capabilities. These precision-guided weapons can loiter over target areas, strike with pinpoint accuracy, and are increasingly vital in modern warfare, as evidenced by their deployment in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. During the visit, PM Modi witnessed a demonstration of the Nagastra-3 drone, developed by Solar Industries, which boasts a strike range of up to 100 km and an endurance of over five hours, showcasing India’s growing expertise in unmanned systems.
Accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, PM Modi toured the facility, inspecting the testing infrastructure and interacting with key personnel. The inauguration also included the unveiling of a runway facility tailored for testing MALE and HALE drones, further solidifying Nagpur’s emergence as a hub for aerospace and defence innovation. The event underscores the private sector’s expanding role in India’s defence ecosystem, with Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited playing a pivotal role in developing indigenous technologies.
The facility’s focus on indigenous development, with over 75% local content, as seen in Solar Industries’ Nagastra-1 and Nagastra-3, has been hailed as a testament to India’s growing technological prowess.
This development comes on the heels of recent advancements in India’s defence sector, including the Indian Army’s acquisition of 480 indigenous loitering munitions from Solar Industries in December 2024 and successful trials of other homegrown systems like Tata Advanced Systems’ ALS-50 drone. The Nagpur facility is expected to catalyze further innovation, positioning India as a global leader in unmanned aerial systems and defense technology.
