Science & Tech 24 October 2026
Solar Defence Begins Delivering Nagastra-2 to Indian Army
Why in the News?
Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (**SDAL**) has officially commenced the delivery of the indigenous **Nagastra-2** anti-tank loitering munition system to the Indian Army, boosting India's tactical strike capabilities.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Warhead Design: Equipped with a 4 kg tandem shaped-charge designed to penetrate up to 650 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) and defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
- Operational Range:
- Up to 25 km in recover-and-reuse mode.
- Up to 50 km in fire-and-forget mode.
- Endurance: Capable of staying airborne for up to **60 minutes**.
- Surveillance Capabilities: Fitted with day-and-night electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras for precise target acquisition and tracking.
- Electronic Warfare Resistance: Features built-in Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) to maintain operational integrity against GPS/communication jamming and spoofing.
- Testing Background: Successfully cleared rigorous technical trials at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in August 2026.
Static GK Facts:
- Loitering Munition: Also commonly referred to as a 'kamikaze' or 'suicide' drone, designed to loiter around a target area until it attacks.
- Mahajan Field Firing Range: Located in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, it is one of the premier firing ranges used by the Indian Armed Forces.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which company has started delivering the indigenous Nagastra-2 anti-tank loitering munition to the Indian Army?
A: Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL)
Q: What is the maximum flight endurance of the Nagastra-2 loitering munition system?
A: Up to 60 minutes
Q: Where were the technical trials for the Nagastra-2 successfully conducted in August 2026?
A: Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan
Q: What is the primary role of an anti-tank loitering munition like Nagastra-2?
A: To track and destroy heavily armored enemy targets like tanks and vehicles
#Nagastra2 #SolarDefence #IndianArmy #LoiteringMunition #DefenseTechnology #CurrentAffairs #StaticGK