The Indian Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for man‑portable loitering munitions. These weapons are to equip the Garud special forces, providing them with a new precision strike capability. The RFI seeks indigenous solutions under the Make in India initiative and sets clear technical benchmarks. The system must be man‑portable, have a minimum range of 40 kilometres, remain airborne for more than two hours, and be capable of carrying both high‑explosive and high‑explosive anti‑tank warheads to take on different types of targets. This option will provide the air force’s special forces with independent strike options.Loitering munitions are designed to combine the functions of a surveillance drone and a guided weapon. Once launched, they can loiter over target areas, transmitting real‑time imagery and strike when a suitable target is identified. This “find, fix, finish” capability reduces the sensor‑to‑shooter timeline and allows operators to abort missions if conditions change. For the Garud special forces, such systems will be particularly useful in difficult terrain such as in the mountains or in jungles , as well as in urban environments where the chances of collateral damage is deemed too high. The option of launching drones also gives these units an organic strike capability in situations where conventional support may be limited or delayed. The emphasis on portability ensures that these systems can be deployed quickly by small teams without the need for heavy launch platforms.Currently, the heaviest weapon with special forces units is man-portable the anti-tank guided missile. These weapons usually tend to have a range of 4-5km. A man-portable loitering munition will not only enhance the distance at which these weapons can engage a target. Such a system will also give the special operations team eyes in the sky. The ability to reconnoiter an area will also provide these top tier units the ability to better execute operations and have much better situational awareness behind enemy lines. A system with such a range can provide a small team the range and precision lethality of artillery.The Garud special forces units were raised in 2004 as a force that can protect air bases from terrorists, conduct counter insurgency operations, perform combat search and rescue, as well as for reconnaissance missions. Loitering munitions will thus provide members of this elite group to execute their operations more effectively across the spectrum.Man‑portable loitering munitions have proven their worth in recent conflicts. Systems such as the American Switchblade, Poland’s Warmate, and Turkey’s Kargu have been used extensively in the Russia‑Ukraine war, demonstrating their effectiveness against both armoured targets and field fortifications. Israel’s Harop system, though larger, has also shown the operational utility of loitering munitions in contested environments.The IAF has also emphasised resilience against GPS‑denied environments and electronic warfare, highlighting the importance of survivability against technologically advanced adversaries.Once inducted, the man‑portable loitering munitions will improve the options in the Garud special forces unit’s quiver. Loitering munitions will allow special forces to conduct stand‑off strikes with minimal collateral damage, providing a leap in capability.
