The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to acquire loitering munitions, or self-destructing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that combine drone surveillance features with a guided missile strike capability, according to a document circulated on Monday seeking information by the end of November from vendors what they can supply. HT has seen a copy of the document.
The document, titled Quality Requirements (QRs) and Trial Directives, said the kamikaze drones (loitering munitions) must carry two high-explosive warheads weighing at least 1.5 kg. It added that they must have a range of at least 15 km and an endurance of at least 30 minutes while carrying the payload. The role will be “to carry out one-way missions against designated objectives, using a remotely operated aerial vehicle with a killing/impact radius of 10 metres. The home ministry rushed two CoBRA battalions to Manipur within two months of Union home minister Amit Shah declaring India Maoist-free on March 31 after all top Maoist leaders surrendered, were arrested, or were killed. This coincided with escalating ethnic violence in Manipur, which has left around 370 dead and 66,000 displaced since 2023.
An official said the regular Central Armed Police Forces will remain posted in the formerly Left Wing Extremism-hit areas, while the specialised unit moves to Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. “The deployment of a third CoBRA battalion in Manipur will happen very soon, while in Jammu and Kashmir, it may happen in the coming years,” said the officer.
