SMPP, one of India’s leading defence and aerospace companies, has entered into a teaming agreement with KNDS, through its subsidiary SMPP Ammunition, to manufacture state-of-the-art loitering munitions in India. The partnership aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by combining technology transfer with indigenous manufacturing.
Validated in recent conflicts, the loitering munitions are designed to deliver high precision while addressing the operational requirements of modern warfare. The agreement focuses on enabling local production under the Make in India framework and strengthening India’s capability to meet emerging requirements of the Armed Forces.
The systems include the VELOCE and RODEUR loitering munitions, along with the ISTAR drone family, enabling a highly effective search-and-destroy capability. These platforms are designed to neutralise high-value targets with precision and feature a hybrid guidance system combining a multi-constellation GNSS receiver with an inertial navigation system to ensure accuracy across diverse operational environments. Their fire-and-forget capability enhances effectiveness in complex mission scenarios, including precision strikes against strategic assets.
SMPP and KNDS will jointly focus on offering these systems to the Indian Army under the Make in India framework, supporting the development of advanced indigenous defence capabilities. The agreement comes at a time when there is increasing operational demand for loitering munition systems within the Indian Armed Forces.
This collaboration builds on the earlier teaming agreement between SMPP and KNDS, signed on November 20, 2025, at the Milipol Exhibition in Paris, for the KATANA® range of precision-guided artillery ammunition.
