image sourced from original article at India has successfully tested the Vayu Astra loitering munition, developed by private firm Nibe Limited, marking an early milestone in its development. The system completed demonstrations in both mountainous terrain in Uttarakhand and desert conditions in Rajasthan. It can carry a 10 kilogram warhead and strike targets up to 100 kilometers away, offering significant firepower and flexibility to field commanders.
Unlike conventional drones that follow a fixed path, the Vayu Astra maintains a two-way link with its operator, allowing real-time surveillance and target selection. Operators can loiter over an area before striking and can also recover the system using an inbuilt parachute if it is deployed for reconnaissance. The platform has previously been used by the air force and the army during Operation Sindoor.
In parallel, the company also conducted test firings of the Extra and Predator Hawk rocket systems at the Integrated Test Range in Odisha. These rockets are part of the Suryastra multi-barrel rocket launcher platform, which can strike targets up to 300 kilometers away and is designed to complement the indigenous Pinaka system.
