Kamikaze drone: Indian Army gets hundreds of suicide UAVs from Gujarat firm that can survive at -35 degrees

A Gujarat-based deep-tech drone company has supplied “hundreds of kamikaze (suicide or self-destruct) drones” to the Indian Army under a ₹10 crore contract awarded by the defence ministry, reports TOI.

The contract with Surat-based InsideFPV was signed in December last year, and the consignment was delivered within two months through the emergency procurement route. The exact number of drones supplied to the Army’s Northern Command has not been disclosed due to security considerations.

Features

• Autonomous precision with real-time targeting
• Top speed of 120 km/h
• AI-powered guidance for accurate strikes
• Compact design for frontline deployment
• Maximum altitude of 2.5 km (AGL)
• Operational range of 10 km
• Payload capacity of 2.5 kg

Mission use

• Surgical strike operations with high-precision payload delivery
• Rapid response to insurgent hideouts and emerging threats
• High-risk combat scenarios where conventional forces have limited access
• Neutralisation of fortified or mobile targets deep in enemy territory

Focus on extreme and GPS-denied operations

Recognised for its expertise in first person view (FPV) and kamikaze drones, InsideFPV develops systems designed to operate in GPS-denied zones and harsh environments. FPV drones are operated using specialised goggles that provide a real-time video feed from an onboard camera, allowing immersive control.

Arth Chowdhary, chief executive officer of InsideFPV, said the systems are engineered to function reliably in temperatures as low as -35°C, as reported by TOI.

Capabilities and operational role

The company said the drones are equipped for kamikaze missions and include waypoint-based navigation, multi-step safety mechanisms, and detonation triggers.

The contract reflects a broader push towards domestic defence manufacturing, with the government increasingly favouring indigenous firms capable of delivering precision unmanned systems quickly and at scale.