How do paramilitary forces use kamikaze drones in counter-insurgency?
Paramilitary forces deploy loitering munitions to combine real-time aerial surveillance with precision strikes, reducing ground troop exposure in dense jungles and mountain terrain.
Paramilitary forces integrate loitering munitions by combining real-time aerial reconnaissance with target-striking capabilities in a single portable platform. In counter-insurgency operations, these one-way suicide drones allow specialised units to scout hostile terrain, hover over concealed targets, and detonate precision warheads without exposing ground troops to direct ambush. In India, the Central Reserve Police Force is adapting these weapons for dense terrain in Manipur and counter-terrorism duties in Jammu and Kashmir. By shifting high-risk assault roles from infantry to expendable loitering airframes, forces gain tactical flexibility in high-risk zones.
- 25 November 2026
- Central Reserve Police Force tender document, November 2026
- At least 15 km
- Central Reserve Police Force quality requirements, November 2026
- Minimum 30 minutes
- Central Reserve Police Force quality requirements, November 2026
- Two warheads of at least 1.5 kg each
- Central Reserve Police Force quality requirements, November 2026
- 10 metres
- Central Reserve Police Force quality requirements, November 2026
- ₹1,577 crore
- Ministry of Defence, November 2026
What's happening now
In November 2026, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) formally initiated steps to acquire loitering munitions, commonly referred to as kamikaze drones, for anti-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. The force requested drone manufacturers to submit technical details matching its operational criteria by 25 November 2026. The move marks a major shift in how Indian internal security forces plan to tackle armed insurgent groups in high-risk, difficult terrain.
The CRPF's technical specifications demand a portable platform capable of carrying two high-explosive warheads weighing at least 1.5 kg each. These one-way aerial vehicles must possess an operational range of at least 15 km, maintain a flight endurance of 30 minutes or more, and deliver an explosive impact radius of 10 metres against identified targets.
This procurement directly targets operational challenges faced by specialised units, particularly the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's declaration on 31 March 2026 that India was Naxal-free, CoBRA units previously stationed in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, were redeployed. By May 2026, two CoBRA battalions were posted to Manipur, with a third battalion approved for deployment in November 2026 alongside potential future rollouts in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security forces recently demonstrated the tactical utility of specialised assault units during operations such as taking control of the Sinai militant camp in Manipur in October 2026. Introducing loitering munitions gives commanders an option to scout dense forest foliage or urban strongholds and destroy hostile fortifications without putting commandos directly in the line of fire.
How loitering munitions operate in anti-insurgency warfare
Launch and insertion
Operators deploy portable loitering munitions from compact canisters or small launch rails near the forward line of contact. The lightweight aircraft ascends quickly, using electric or small internal combustion engines to maintain low radar and acoustic signatures.
Tactical loitering and surveillance
Equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors along with satellite navigation, the drone patrols over a designated zone for 30 minutes or longer. Operators monitor live video feeds to survey concealed positions, bunkers, or moving insurgent groups.
Target identification and confirmation
Once hostile elements are spotted under jungle cover or behind fortified structures, human operators pinpoint the target coordinates. Advanced systems incorporate satellite positioning systems such as NAVIC to resist electronic jamming.
Terminal dive and strike
Upon command, the loitering munition enters a high-speed terminal dive directly into the target structure or vehicle. On impact, its twin 1.5 kg high-explosive warheads detonate, generating a 10-metre blast radius to neutralise hostile positions.
Who it affects
In India, this technological shift primarily impacts front-line paramilitary units and insurgent groups operating in complex geographic regions. The CRPF, India's primary internal security force, maintains extensive deployments in the northeastern state of Manipur and across Jammu and Kashmir. Specialised forces like CoBRA, originally raised in 2008 for counter-Maoist operations, carry the heaviest tactical burden in these dense forest and mountain sectors.
Terrain in regions like Manipur severely restricts traditional infantry movement, exposing troops to ambushes along narrow tracks and heavily forested valleys. Replacing frontal ground reconnaissance with airborne loitering munitions alters the risk profile for security forces, allowing commandos to inspect and target fortified bases from a stand-off distance of up to 15 km.
Internationally, armed forces and internal security agencies are making similar shifts towards expendable precision airframes. Indigenous Indian defence manufacturers, including CSIR-NAL, Solar Industries, Z-Motion, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, alongside joint ventures like Alpha Design-Elbit, have built loitering munitions tailored for both the Indian Army's ₹1,577 crore procurement initiative and paramilitary requirements as of November 2026.
What's being done, and is it working
Institution
Central Reserve Police Force
Issued a request for technical details from drone manufacturers to acquire loitering munitions for anti-insurgency operations.
Institution
CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)
Redeployed two battalions to Manipur in May 2026 with a third approved in November 2026, reorienting from anti-Naxal operations to active regional counter-insurgency.
Institution
Ministry of Home Affairs
Declared India Naxal-free on 31 March 2026 following surrenders, arrests, and deaths of top Maoist leaders, enabling the redeployment of elite forces.
Market
Indian Defence Industry
Developed indigenous loitering munition platforms like Nagastra-1 and ALS-50 integrated with NAVIC satellite guidance.
What you can do
Follow official Ministry of Home Affairs announcements for updates on internal security deployments.
Track public tender portals used by Indian paramilitary forces like the CRPF for equipment acquisitions.
Monitor domestic defence manufacturing developments regarding indigenous loitering platforms such as Nagastra-1 and ALS-50.
Read policy publications from defence research institutes regarding tactical drone integration in anti-insurgency doctrine.
What we still don't know
- How effectively can loitering munitions distinguish insurgents from civilians in densely populated or contested mountain villages?
- What counter-drone measures or electronic warfare tactics might armed insurgent groups adopt to jam satellite guidance systems like NAVIC?
- How will the CRPF handle rules of engagement and collateral damage risks when deploying explosive suicide drones in internal security operations?
Questions readers ask
What is a kamikaze drone or loitering munition?
A loitering munition is an unmanned aerial weapon that combines real-time video surveillance with a precision-guided explosive warhead. Unlike standard drones that fly back to base, it hovers over an area until a target is identified and then dives directly into it to detonate.
Why is the CRPF acquiring loitering munitions?
The CRPF seeks to conduct reconnaissance and precision strikes in high-risk areas like Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir without exposing infantry or CoBRA commandos to close-range ambushes in dense jungles or mountains.
What technical specifications has the CRPF required for these drones?
As of November 2026, the CRPF requires drones carrying at least two 1.5 kg high-explosive warheads, with an operational range of at least 15 km, an endurance of 30 minutes or more, and a 10-metre lethal impact radius.
