World Defence Show 2026: India Unveils SHESHNAAG-20 Canister Launched Loitering Munition.

Riyadh; February 2026: At the 2026 edition of the World Defence Show in Riyadh, NewSpace Research & Technologies introduced the SHESHNAAG-20, a new canister-launched loitering munition developed for deployment from ground positions or from vehicles. The presentation highlighted a compact, electrically powered system intended to combine surveillance and strike functions within a single platform, reflecting the sustained global interest in unmanned solutions capable of operating with limited manpower while delivering accurate effects at tactically relevant distances.

NewSpace Research & Technologies is an Indian company active in the development of unmanned and autonomous systems for defence applications. In recent years it has positioned itself in segments ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to precision engagement, with an emphasis on modular designs and scalable architectures. The SHESHNAAG-20 forms part of this portfolio and illustrates the firm’s effort to address requirements expressed by armed forces seeking organic capabilities that can be rapidly fielded and integrated with existing formations.

The aircraft itself is presented as an electric fixed-wing design powered by batteries and propelled by a brushless DC motor. According to the technical data released during the exhibition, the munition features a wingspan of 02 metres and a maximum takeoff weight of 20 kilograms. Within that envelope, it can accommodate a payload of up to 05 kilograms. The canisterised configuration is intended to simplify handling, storage and launch procedures while supporting transport on a variety of military vehicles.

Performance figures provided by the manufacturer indicate an endurance of approximately 01 hour and an operational range of 30 kilometres. The SHESHNAAG-20 can reach a maximum operating altitude of 6,000 meters above mean sea level and fly at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. These characteristics are designed to allow the system to transit quickly toward an objective area and then remain available for search and identification tasks before a strike decision is made.

For mission execution, the platform integrates a high-performance electro-optical and infrared camera intended to support target acquisition under different environmental conditions. In its strike role, it can be equipped with a high-explosive or anti-tank warhead, including a five-kilogram HEAT configuration. The company states that the munition has been conceived with a significant level of autonomy and can be employed in coordinated groups, enabling what is often described as a concentration of effects while keeping operator workload limited. The system’s arrival on the international stage underscores the speed at which loitering munitions continue to evolve, driven by demands for responsiveness, precision and adaptability across a wide spectrum of operational environments.

With the SHESHNAAG-20, NewSpace Research & Technologies is proposing a solution that combines portability, integrated sensing and a selectable lethal payload within a relatively lightweight air vehicle. Its introduction at World Defence Show 2026 offers potential users an opportunity to assess how such capabilities might fit into future force structures, where unmanned assets are expected to play an increasingly central role alongside conventional platforms.

Team Maverick.