NEW DELHI: In a significant step towards advancing defence capabilities, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has developed an indigenous Kamikaze drone, also known as a suicide drone. This state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can carry a warhead weighing up to 6 kg and has an operational range of 100 km.
In an update on the development last week, IIT Kanpur on social media said that VU Dynamics, a startup founded in 2022, with its roots in the institution is in the process of developing the indigenous UAV. “The company “VU Dynamics” is currently working on developing an indigenous UAV named Kamikaze, specially designed to strengthen our armed forces. With a range of 100 km and an endurance of 50 mins, this vehicle is fully designed and manufactured at the UAV laboratory at IIT Kanpur under the guided supervision of co-founder Prof. Subrahmanyam Saderla from the Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, IITK,” it said on X.
The Kamikaze UAV is specially designed to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces and has endurance of 50 minutes per mission. The drone measures 2 meters in length and features a foldable fixed-wing design for ease of transportation. It can be launched using a catapult or canister launcher and operates autonomously with the help of AI-based algorithms, allowing it to navigate enemy territory and neutralize targets even without GPS support.
The drone’s battery-powered system can deliver its payload in just 40 minutes, providing enhanced efficiency during operations. Equipped with an onboard high-resolution camera, it can transmit real-time visuals of enemy positions, making it a valuable tool for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
The UAV is built for all-weather, day-and-night operations and can operate at altitudes of up to 4.5 km. Its advanced stealth technology enables it to avoid detection by enemy radar, adding a layer of tactical superiority.
Kamikaze drones have been increasingly utilised in global conflicts for their ability to deliver surgical strikes while minimizing risk to personnel. The IIT Kanpur prototype aims to position India as a leader in this strategic domain.
Experts believe that the drone’s compact design, high payload capacity, and radar-evading features could make it a game-changer for India’s armed forces. Its indigenous nature aligns with the government’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defense manufacturing.
IIT Kanpur has been a prominent manufacturer of drones for India. Earlier, this year, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur joined forces with the Centre of Excellence for Capacity Building, Training, and Design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drone CoE Kanpur), an initiative of the UP govt and the Drone Federation of India (DFI) to launch the UAV/UAS/Drone Acceleration and Networking (UDAAN) Program.
In another production, IIT-K and AVPL International, a leading company in the Indian agriculture drone ecosystem, came together for co-developing cutting-edge drones equipped with advanced technology, designed to address the challenges faced by large-scale landholders in India, Australia, Austria, and multiple European nations.