CRPF Asks For Offensive Strike Capability ; Loitering Munitions On The Radar
CRPF loitering munitions: CRPF seeks loitering munitions with twin warheads, 15 km range and precision strikes for operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
In a major push to upgrade its counter-insurgency capabilities, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sought information from defence vendors on loitering munitions, self-destructing unmanned aerial vehicles that combine real-time aerial surveillance with precision-guided strike capability.
It has asked vendors to submit proposals by November 25 for systems capable of carrying twin high-explosive warheads, operating over at least 15 km and conducting one-way precision strikes with a 10-metre impact radius in conflict-affected areas including Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, according to a Quality Requirements and Trial Directives document.
What CRPF Seeks
The document specifies that the munitions should conduct “one-way missions against designated objectives” using a remotely operated aerial vehicle with a “killing/impact radius” of 10 metres. Vendors have been asked to submit information by November 25 on systems matching the CRPF’s requirements.
The proposed systems are intended to give the force a precision-strike option in counter-insurgency operations. The CRPF is deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, where the report says militant groups have used drones and improvised rocket launchers with ranges of 10–15 km.
Deployment Context
As per reports, two battalions of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), the CRPF’s specialised anti-insurgency unit, have been moved to Manipur. The deployment followed the Union Home Ministry’s decision to shift CoBRA resources after Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared India Maoist-free by March 31.
Nation poised to end Maoism by 31st March 2026. https://t.co/jINo503JRg
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 21, 2026
People familiar with the matter further told that CoBRA has participated in major anti-insurgency operations in Manipur over the past six months, including the takeover of a militant camp last month and arms seizures since May. Manipur has sought two additional CoBRA battalions, while an official said a third battalion’s deployment was expected soon and a Jammu and Kashmir deployment could follow in coming years.
Why It Matters
The move signals a shift in India’s internal-security doctrine: the CRPF, traditionally equipped and trained for crowd control, counter-insurgency and territorial security, is seeking offensive precision-strike technology for use against non-state armed groups. The procurement is at an information-seeking stage rather than a confirmed purchase, but the specifications point to a preference for short-range, expendable systems that can identify and strike targets while limiting wider collateral damage.
