Archive · 16 Sep 2026
How India Is Making Conventional Weapons Smarter and More Precise
Older weapons usually followed a path planned before they were fired.
Newer smart munitions can notice when they are moving away from their target.
They can then change their path while flying.
Some systems correct only distance, while others correct distance and direction.
Sensors and satellite navigation can help make these corrections.
India is exploring ways to add this technology to mortar and artillery ammunition.
Zeus Numerix says the amount of technology should depend on the mission.
More sensors can make weapons more accurate, but they also make them more expensive.
India is developing technologies that add precision guidance to mortar and artillery ammunition.
Smart munitions can correct their flight after launch using guidance systems, sensors and onboard electronics.
Zeus Numerix is working on navigation-based guidance that can autonomously correct trajectory deviations.
More advanced systems may combine satellite navigation with terminal laser guidance.
Additional sensors improve precision but increase the munition’s cost, making mission requirements central to design.
- Who
- India and Zeus Numerix, represented by Chief Business Officer Abhishek Jain, are developing and discussing smart-munition technologies.
- What
- Technologies are being developed to give conventional mortar and artillery ammunition the ability to correct its flight after launch.
- Where
- The development effort is in India; the comments were given to WION.
- Why
- The aim is to improve precision while balancing the need for affordable quantities of ammunition and the mission’s actual requirements.
- Technology
- Guidance systems, sensors and onboard electronics allow munitions to adjust their flight after launch.
- Weapons discussed
- Mortar rounds, artillery shells and unguided bombs are among the conventional weapons being made more precise.
- Company
- Zeus Numerix is working on navigation-based guidance for munitions.
- Guidance methods
- Systems may use navigation, multi-constellation satellite navigation or satellite navigation combined with terminal laser guidance.
- Correction levels
- A munition may correct range alone, or both range and direction.
- Cost trade-off
- Adding more sensors can improve precision but increases the munition’s price.
- Design principle
- The appropriate level of onboard intelligence depends on the concept of operations and mission.