India signs Rs 1,577 crore loitering munition contracts with TASL and NIBE on August 14, 2026

Key facts

• The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and NIBE Private Limited for loitering munition systems, munitions, and accessories for the Indian Army.
• The contracts were signed on August 14, 2026, under the 'Buy (Indian)' category through the Fast Track Procedure.
• The procurement covers 84 sets of loitering munition systems and 840 loiter munitions, with deliveries to be completed within 12 months.
• TASL, as the L1 vendor, will supply 54 sets with 540 loiter munitions (64% share), while NIBE, as L2, will supply 30 sets with 300 munitions (36% share); NIBE's order is valued at Rs 563.35 crore.
• The loitering munitions, also known as 'kamikaze' drones, are intended to enhance artillery regiments' precision-strike capability, including striking targets beyond 100 km for the Army's Shaktibaan and Divyastra formations.
• The deal is described as the biggest-ever one-time purchase order for drones in Indian military history.