Indigenous Vayu Astra-1 completes high-altitude trials in Uttarakhand, Pokhran

Key points

• Pune-based defence technology firm Nibe Limited has successfully completed no-cost, no-commitment demonstrations of its indigenous loitering munition system ‘Vayu Astra-1’ during trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, and Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand in April for the Indian Army.
• According to Nibe Limited, the company conducted the first demonstration of the anti-personnel variant of the Vayu Astra-1 at the Pokhran Range on April 18-19. Equipped with a 10-kg warhead, the loitering munition successfully struck its target at a range of 100 km in a single attempt, achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than one metre.
• The system also demonstrated abort attack and reattack capability during the trial.
• The company further added that the loitering munition is based on an Israeli-origin platform and has been adapted for operational requirements.
• During the demonstration, the team also carried out an anti-armour night strike using an infrared camera.