Pune-based defence technology firm Nibe Limited successfully completed the first technical trials of its Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition on April 18-19, 2026 at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan and April 26-27, 2026 at Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand. According to the company's filing to stock exchanges, the trials were conducted against a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Indian Army for a 100-km-range loitering munition system. The successful completion marks another significant milestone in India's push towards precision-guided weapon systems under the Make in India initiative.
The Vayu Astra-1 successfully completed its first technical trial with a 10-kg warhead during an anti-personnel strike mission at Pokhran, achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than one metre. As reported by Nibe Limited, the trial also validated critical operational capabilities such as abort, attack and re-attack functions, which are considered essential for modern intelligent loitering weapon systems. In another demonstration, the defence firm conducted an anti-armour night strike using an infrared camera-guided targeting system, successfully hitting the target within a CEP of two metres in a single attempt.
The endurance capability of the Vayu Astra-1 was tested in the high-altitude terrain of Joshimath in Uttarakhand, where the loitering munition reportedly achieved an endurance flight time exceeding 90 minutes. According to the company, the high-altitude loitering operations were conducted at elevations above 14,000 feet to check the system's ability to operate effectively in difficult mountainous terrain and extreme weather conditions typically encountered along India's northern borders. The trials also demonstrated the capability to transfer operational control from the Ground Control Station (GCS) to a Forward Control Station located nearly 70 km away.
The loitering munition was safely recovered after mission completion for subsequent flights, indicating reusable operational capability that could reduce costs and improve mission sustainability. As reported by Nibe Limited, the twin tests came close on the heels of the company's recent successful trials of the Suryastra Universal Rocket Launcher system at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast. Several rounds of the domestically manufactured Suryastra rockets, including the 150-km and 300-km-range variants, were test-fired during trials conducted on May 18 and 19.
