Indian Army orders 100 Elbit SkyStriker loitering munitions
Photo: Elbit
The Indian Army awarded a contract worth $13.7 million in late August to a joint venture between Israel's Elbit Systems and local company Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) for the supply of 100 SkyStriker loitering munition systems.
Elbit's SkyStriker is a precision-guided system designed to seek, locate, and acquire operator-marked targets and targets of opportunity in tactical-level engagements. According to Elbit, the SkyStriker can cover a distance of 20km within 10 minutes, and upon reaching the target area, it can loiter and pursue the target for up to two hours when fitted with a 5kg warhead, or for up to one hour with a 10kg warhead.
The system uses autonomous navigation for its cruising and loitering modes. When preparing to strike, it electro-optically locks on the target. The munition can be deployed as a standalone system or as part of a drone swarm. The SkyStriker's operator can also abort the strike up to two seconds before impact, re-engage or, if engagement is not authorized, redirect the munition so it can be recovered safely, according to the company.
SkyStriker , Cost-Effective Loitering Munition
The Janes website reported that several days after awarding the contract to Elbit, the Indian Army awarded a separate contract, also worth $13.7 million, to Bangalore-based NewSpace Research and Technologies for 100 locally developed "swarm drone units" capable of seeking, tracking, and striking enemy targets with a 5kg or 10kg warhead in tactical-level engagements.
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