Solar Industries has bolstered India's defence manufacturing capabilities with an advanced drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing facility in Nagpur. Established by Economic Explosives (EEL), its subsidiary, the facility was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, marking a significant step towards India's self-reliance in defence technology.

The facility aims to boost indigenous production of drones, UAVs, loiter munitions, and counter-drone systems. While various Indian companies and start-ups have excelled in the surveillance and logistics applications of drones, combat-ready UAVs and weaponised drone technologies require advanced infrastructure and expertise.

A notable achievement at the facility is the development of Nagastra-1, India's first indigenous loiter munition. Inducted into the Indian Army’s infantry, Nagastra-1 has been instrumental in enhancing precision strike capabilities. Under an emergency procurement contract, EEL has delivered 480 units of Nagastra-1, a GPS-enabled system capable of neutralising threats with an accuracy of up to two mtrs.  The success of Nagastra-1 has led to the development of advanced variants, Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3, as part of the 'Make 2' initiative.

The facility also marks Solar Industries' entry into the development of medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAVs, equipped with both surveillance and attack functionalities.