IA Successfully Tests India’s First Kamikaze FPV Drones with Anti-Tank Munitions.
Science and Technology
In March 2025, the Indian Army's (IA) Fleur-De-Lis Brigade (2nd Independent Armoured Brigade), in collaboration with Chandigarh-based Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) under DRDO, successfully tested India's first FPV drone with impact-based kamikaze anti-tank munitions in Pathankot, Punjab.
- This first-of-its-kind project is designed for precision strikes against armored vehicles, enhancing India's defense capabilities with advanced drone warfare technology.
- The drone was assembled at the Rising Star Drone Battle School, which has fabricated over 100 drones within the formation as of March 2025.
- Key features of the drone include dual-safety mechanisms to prevent accidental detonation, a live feedback relay system for real-time payload updates, and a pilot-activated trigger via a radio controller for controlled deployment.
Main Point :- (i) Developed by Major Cephas Chetan of IA and the TBRL team led by Dr. Raghvendra, each FPV drone costs ₹1.4 lakh. The Indian Army inducted an initial batch of five drones and plans to procure 95 more, totaling 100 units.
(ii) The initiative, launched in August 2024, involved extensive trials in Pathankot under TBRL supervision, including explosive testing, aerial vehicle assessments, and trigger system evaluations.
(iii) The successful trials confirmed the drone's accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness in neutralizing targets, validating it as a cost-effective force multiplier for the Indian Army.
About Indian Army (IA)
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) : General Upendra Dwivedi
Headquarters : New Delhi
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