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Indian defence manufacturer SMPP Limited has completed delivery of 106 systems, including 100 operational loitering munitions and 6 training UAVs, to the Indian Army under an emergency procurement programme, marking the induction of a new jet-powered precision-strike capability designed for deep battlefield engagements.
The drones, marketed domestically as Peacekeeper (Agniveg), have been localised in India through a phased transfer of technology (ToT) arrangement and are intended to fill the operational gap between conventional artillery systems and long-range missile assets.
According to the company, the deliveries were completed within six months.
Designed to engage high-value targets deep inside hostile territory, the Peacekeeper combines long-range reach with high-speed precision attack capability. The system offers commanders a rapid-response strike option against time-sensitive targets while reducing the exposure of personnel in contested environments.
In a statement, SMPP said the kamikaze drone had completed user trials and demonstrated a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 5 metres while operating in heavily jammed and spoofed electromagnetic conditions.
The company said the drone achieved an operational range of around 180 km, underlining its ability to function in environments where satellite navigation and communications are under sustained electronic attack.
SMPP Ammunition Pvt Ltd partnered with a foreign state trade enterprise under a phased Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement to manufacture the systems in India.
The jet-powered loitering munition can reportedly attain speeds of up to 450 kmph, has a wingspan of 2.8 metres, and carries a 10-kg warhead for autonomous precision strikes. It has also been engineered to withstand operations in GPS-denied environments and resist electronic warfare measures such as signal jamming and spoofing.
With its combination of speed and range, the system can target military infrastructure, logistics nodes, command posts, radar stations, and other strategic assets located well behind enemy lines.
Commenting on the completion of deliveries, Ashish Kansal, CEO and Director of SMPP, said the programme represented an important milestone for both the company and India’s defence manufacturing sector.
“The successful completion of Peacekeeper deliveries to the Indian Army in a short time frame of six months is a significant milestone for SMPP and for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. Modern warfare is increasingly defined by precision, autonomy and affordability, and systems such as Peacekeeper are becoming critical force multipliers on the battlefield,” he said.
The Peacekeeper programme also signals SMPP’s broader push beyond its traditional focus on ballistic protection systems. The company has been expanding into precision-strike technologies, drone and counter-drone solutions, ammunition production, and other emerging battlefield capabilities as part of the country’s drive to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing.
The induction of the jet-powered loitering munition comes as the Indian Army increasingly turns to unmanned systems that can deliver precision effects at extended ranges, reflecting the changing character of warfare, shaped by recent conflicts in which drones have emerged as decisive battlefield assets.
Team BharatShakti
