India Accelerates Homegrown Long-Range Strike Drones in Wake of Shahed Drone Deployments
Iran’s Shahed drones accelerate India’s homegrown long-range strike drone projects Sheshnaag and Project KAL.
The large-scale deployment of Iran’s Shahed drones in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict has prompted Indian military planners to fast-track the development of domestic long-range strike drones. Observers say the use of these low-cost unmanned systems has highlighted the strategic advantage of swarming drone attacks capable of penetrating advanced air defenses.
Recent images obtained by NDTV show India’s Sheshnaag drone undergoing highway launch trials last week, a test conducted in the aftermath of the Middle East conflict. Alongside Sheshnaag, another indigenous Shahed-type system, Project KAL, has been unveiled and is reportedly being pushed through accelerated testing cycles. Both projects are aimed at meeting rapidly evolving operational requirements.
Military analysts note that waves of Shahed drones in the Iran-Israel war have demonstrated how low-cost drones can strike deep inside hostile territory while overwhelming defenses. This has increased urgency within India’s defense establishment to field comparable homegrown capabilities, with long-range strike drones now considered essential tools of modern warfare rather than niche assets.
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The Sheshnaag-150, developed by Bengaluru-based startup Newspace Research Technologies (NRT), has been in development for over a year and has steadily advanced through testing phases. Following Operation Sindoor, in which NRT deployed other drone capabilities for the Indian military, the emphasis on achieving a mature, long-range swarming strike system has intensified.
The Sheshnaag-150 reportedly has an operational range exceeding 1,000 kilometers and an endurance of over five hours. It is capable of autonomous target identification, tracking, and engagement, and can carry warheads weighing between 25 to 40 kilograms, enabling precision strikes against infrastructure, vehicles, or personnel.
India’s push to accelerate Sheshnaag and Project KAL reflects a broader strategic recognition that long-range strike drones are becoming a critical component of modern military doctrine. The accelerated testing—including unconventional scenarios such as highway launches—underscores the country’s commitment to rapidly fielding operationally ready systems.
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