Indian Startup Introduces Kamikaze Drone With Hundred-Kilometer Range
Indian firm Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) has unveiled a loitering munition with a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles) at a defense aviation exhibit in Paris, France.
Called the FWD-LM01, this unmanned aerial system (UAS) is based on the Bangalore-based startup’s family of kamikaze drones designed with delta wings for strike missions requiring extended reach.
The aircraft is man-portable and can be set up in under five minutes without complex tools, a report from local Indian news agency The Economic Times said.
The FWD-LM01 has a wingspan of 2 meters (7 feet), a takeoff weight of 6 kilograms (13 pounds), and an endurance of 1.5 hours.
In flight, the drone can reach a 17,000-foot (5,182-meter) altitude and carry up to 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of explosives.
It uses an electro-optical infrared sensor suite for real-time reconnaissance as well as AI-enabled components for autonomous targeting and navigation.
With ‘Global Standards’
The FWD-LM01 marks India’s formal entry into the international long-range UAS market and represents a significant advancement over earlier domestic platforms, which, according to the FWDA, were limited to ranges of around 40 kilometers (25 miles).
Moreover, the FWD-LM01 program advances India’s objective to enhance indigenous supply chain resilience, with all components — from prototyping through flight testing — manufactured and sourced locally.
“With FWD-LM01, we are signalling the arrival of next-gen Indian capability in AI-enabled loitering strike systems,” said Suhas Tejaskandat, CEO and Founder of FWDA.
“This is a highly agile, high altitude tested platform designed for modern asymmetric warfare. We are committed to advancing India’s defence capabilities with scalable solutions aligned with global standards.”
