The Bangalore-based NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) has achieved a major milestone in Indian defence innovation with the developmental trials of its indigenous Sheshnag-150 Kamikaze drone.
The Sheshnag-150 is a long-range, precision strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is intended to significantly improve India’s capacity for swarm-based, autonomous warfare.
Its most remarkable attributes include a stated operational range of more than 1,000 km, endurance of more than five hours, and a strong payload capacity of 25–40 kg, which allow it to carry heavy warheads to do devastating damage to strategic targets located deep within enemy territory.
The drone skilfully carried out precise strikes on pre-designated ground targets during its first flight testing in Karnataka’s aeronautical capital as part of the most recent developmental trials. With a remarkable Circular Error Probable (CEP) of only 5 meters, the Sheshnag-150 demonstrated its great accuracy and dependability for operational deployment.
The Sheshnag-150’s real novelty, according to company officials, is not only in the airframe but also in its sophisticated swarming capabilities, which are driven by sophisticated, domestic electronics and software.
With the use of these technologies, coordinated “mass and saturation” strikes are made possible. In semi-autonomous or fully autonomous modes, swarms of drones overwhelm enemy defences with little assistance from humans.
The Sheshnag-150 can carry out a variety of tasks beyond Kamikaze strike attacks because to integrated AI technologies. The drone is a versatile platform for contemporary combat scenarios since it can perform Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities and supports electronic warfare (EW) operations.
Because of its adaptability, the system can be used for counterterrorism operations, strategic strikes on enemy infrastructure, and border security, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
The Sheshnag-150’s development is a reflection of India’s larger drive for independence in unmanned systems development and defence production. The system’s capacity to deliver high-precision payloads in coordinated, massed strikes marks a significant advancement in autonomous combat technology.
It is anticipated that NRT’s ongoing development of the Sheshnag drone family would change the nature of air combat and give the Indian military a powerful yet affordable force multiplier for offensive and defensive missions in ever-more complicated operational conditions.
