By A Correspondent

New Delhi/Paris: SMPP, one of India’s 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’ (Self-Reliant India) vision by combining technology transfer with indigenous manufacturing.

Validated in recent conflicts, these loitering munitions are designed to deliver high accuracy while addressing the critical operational requirements of modern warfare. The agreement was signed on June 18, 2026, at the Eurosatory Exhibition in Paris.

These loitering munitions include the VELOCE and RODEUR systems, along with the ISTAR family of drones, enabling a highly effective “search-and-destroy” capability. These systems offer the capability to neutralize high-value threats with exceptional precision and leverage a hybrid guidance system that combines a multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) to ensure accuracy across diverse terrains and combat environments. The fire-and-forget capability further enhances their effectiveness in complex operational scenarios, including precision strikes against strategic enemy assets. 

Under the teaming agreement, SMPP and KNDS will focus on offering these loitering munitions to the Indian Army under the ‘Make in India’ framework, strengthening India’s capability to address key operational requirements of the Indian armed forces. This agreement comes at a time when the Indian Army has a significant and urgent requirement for advanced loitering munitions.

SMPP and KNDS had recently signed a teaming agreement for the KATANA® range of precision-guided artillery ammunition on November 20, 2025, at the Milipol Exhibition in Paris. KATANA® is a 155 mm precision-guided artillery munition designed to deliver exceptional accuracy and extended range while addressing the evolving operational requirements of modern artillery systems.

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