The Indian Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to acquire a Medium Range Loitering Munition [LM(MR)] system capable of operating from both naval vessels and shore-based vehicles. Envisaged as a universal strike system, the LM(MR) will target both maritime and land-based threats.
Key RFI Specifications
- Operational Range: >1,000 km
- Endurance & Speed: Over 9 hours loiter time at speeds exceeding 75 knots
- Altitude: Operational flight ceiling up to 15,000 feet
- Dimensions: Maximum length of 2.5 meters and a wingspan of 3 meters
- Targeting & Sensors: Modular design with a primary stabilized EO/IR seeker for ISR and terminal guidance
- C2 & Networking: Canister-launched with RF and satellite datalinks; mission control units must manage up to 10 munitions simultaneously with seamless control hand-off between ship and land stations
- Navigation: Autonomous operation in GNSS-denied environments
These performance metrics place the requirement in a size and propulsion class similar to the Iranian Shahed-136, typically driven by a piston engine.
The RFI specifies procurement under either the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ or ‘Buy (Indian)’ categories. Choosing IDDM requires an indigenously designed and manufactured platform, whereas ‘Buy (Indian)’ opens opportunities for foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to partner with local firms through joint ventures or technology transfers.
Strategic Context & Local Industry
This initiative aligns with a 2022 Ministry of Defence statement confirming plans to field containerized missile systems and loitering munitions across land and naval platforms. A 2023 RFI for Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) similarly outlined requirements for containerized missile and loitering munition payloads.
While the Indian Armed Forces have operated Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Harop—produced locally by Adani Defence as the Agnikaa—and used it during Operation Sindoor in 2025, India currently lacks an operational land- or sea-based loitering system with a 1,000 km reach.
Local defense firms are already advancing long-range platforms that could be navalized:
Regionally, the Pakistan Navy demonstrated its Mudmair loitering munitions during 2026 naval drills. More nations are placing emphasis on naval loitering munitions in light of the conflicts around the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Indian Navy will be eager to acquire these given the high cost and lower magazine depth of its primary strike weapon, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, as well as as the flexibility offered by such loitering munitions.
