Vayu Astra loitering munition with 100 km range successfully tested in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand

By Sandy Verma On May 22, 2026

Pune-based defense firm Nibe Limited has completed a no-cost, no-commitment (NCNC) demonstration of its Vayu Astra loitering munition, which has a range of 100 km, during trials held at Pokhran in Rajasthan and Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand.

The demonstrations were conducted on April 18 and April 19 at Pokhran, and on April 26 and April 27 at Joshimath, the company said in a statement.

The Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition, an anti-personnel variant carrying a 10 kg warhead, successfully completed its first NCNC demonstration at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan.

For capital procurements by the Ministry of Defence, product trials are conducted by the buyer on a no-cost, no-commitment basis, meaning the government does not pay for the trials nor commits to purchasing the product thereafter.

The company added that the system hit its target at a distance of 100 km in a single attempt, exhibiting a circular error probable (CEP) of less than one meter, as well as demonstrating abort-attack and re-attack capabilities.

“The LM is based on an Israeli loitering munition,” the statement noted.

During anti-armour (anti-tank) night strike trials, the system engaged targets successfully using an infrared camera and hit within a two-metre CEP in a single attempt.

The capability to transfer control from the ground control station to a forward control segment at a distance of 70 km was also demonstrated successfully.

In separate trials at Joshimath (Malari), Uttarakhand, the Vayu Astra-1 was tested for high-altitude endurance, reportedly flying for more than 90 minutes and completing missions at altitudes exceeding 14,000 feet.

The firm stated that the system also exhibited recovery capability after mission completion for subsequent flights.

On May 20, Nibe Limited announced the successful test-firing of its Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher system.

The trials took place on May 18 and 19 at the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, meeting all mission objectives with exceptional precision, according to the company.

These trials follow a critical purchase order awarded to Nibe Limited in January 2026 under the Indian Army’s Emergency Procurement window, which expedited the development and supply of the Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher along with dedicated rockets of 150 km and 300 km ranges.