Vayu Astra loitering munition with 100 km range successfully tested in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
New Delhi, May 22
Pune-based defence firm Nibe Limited has said it has successfully completed the no-cost, no-commitment demonstration of its loitering munition Vayu Astra, with a 100 km range, during trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan and Joshimath in Uttarakhand.
In a statement, the company said the demonstrations were carried out at Pokhran on April 18 and April 19 and at Joshimath (Malari) on April 26 and April 27.
The Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition (anti-personnel variant) carried out its first NCNC demonstration successfully at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan, carrying a 10 kg warhead.
For capital procurements by the Ministry of Defence, product trials are conducted by the buyer on a no-cost, no-commitment (NCNC) basis, meaning the government neither pays for the trials nor commits to purchasing the products afterwards.
The defence firm's statement added that the system hit its target at a distance of 100 km in a single attempt, with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than one metre, and demonstrated abort-attack and re-attack capability.
"The LM is based on an Israeli loitering munition," the statement noted.
It further claimed that during anti-armour (anti-tank) night strike trials, the system successfully engaged targets using an infrared (IR) camera and hit within a 2-metre CEP in a single attempt. The company also highlighted that the capability of handing over control from the ground control station (GCS) to a forward control segment at a distance of 70 km was successfully demonstrated.
Separately, during trials in Joshimath (Malari), Uttarakhand, the Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition was tested for high-altitude endurance, reportedly flying for more than 90 minutes and completing missions at an altitude of over 14,000 feet.
The company added that the system also demonstrated recovery capability after mission completion for subsequent flights.
Earlier on May 20, the Pune-based defence firm announced the successful test-firing of its Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher system.
The consecutive trials, conducted at the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, on May 18 and 19, met all mission objectives with exceptional precision, Nibe Group said in a press release.
The successful trials come on the heels of a critical purchase order awarded to Nibe Limited in January 2026 under the Indian Army's Emergency Procurement window.
The contract fast-tracked the development and supply of the Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher, along with dedicated 150 km and 300 km range rockets.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Happy to see our private sector making strides in defence tech, but I hope the "based on Israeli loitering munition" means we're building our own IP. Can't rely on foreign tech forever, especially near borders. Still, good first step!
As someone tracking defence tech, loitering munitions are becoming crucial for modern warfare - they combine drone persistence with missile precision. India testing this at both desert and high-altitude terrain shows they're preparing for real threats. The abort-attack feature is a big plus for minimizing collateral damage.
Very impressed with the 100 km range and single-attempt success. But I'm slightly concerned about the "no-cost, no-commitment" model - shouldn't we be giving more committed support to promising domestic firms like Nibe? The emergency procurement window is good, but we need sustained investment.
Loitering munitions are the future of battlefield precision. India testing at Pokhran AND Joshimath is smart - our forces need kit that works in diverse environments. The recovery capability for reuse is also cost-effective. 👌
Good to see our domestic firms stepping up. But let's be honest - the 10 kg warhead is quite small for a loitering munition. For anti-tank roles, that's borderline. Hope future variants carry heavier payloads. Still, every step counts. 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.