Loitering munitions are a mix of a surface-to-surface missile and a drone. They can destroy radar installations, air defence systems, communication centres as well as dynamic targets such as enemy vehicles and troops
The Indian Armed Forces tested three loitering munitions in Ladakh in March. These were developed jointly by Economic Explosives Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd, and Zmotion Autonomous Systems. ANI
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in the defence sphere got a boost when India successfully test-fired three ‘Made in India’ loitering munitions in Ladakh.
The newly-developed Loitering Munitions (LM0, LM1 and Hexacopter) were tested in Nubra Valley area of Ladakh during 21-23 March.
In addition to this, the Indian Army has also placed a request for more smart loiter munitions, termed Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munitions (CALM) Systems, which the Armed Forces want to deploy in the plains and deserts along the western borders, as well as in high altitude areas up to 16,500 feet along the northern frontier.
Here’s a better understanding of what loitering munitions are and how they will help the Armed Forces.
What exactly are loitering munitions?
Loitering munition is a category of weapon systems, the main elements of which are an unmanned platform with a warhead. Simply put, they are a mix of a surface-to-surface missile and a drone.
While a missile, once fired heads straight to its target after a flight of usually a few minutes, loiter munitions are launched in a manner similar to a drone and they stay aloft for a longer time, surveying a designated area and seeking targets. Once a target is identified and locked on, they act as a missile to destroy it.
If a mission is aborted or there are no suitable targets, loiter munitions can be recovered. Loiter munitions, however, are smaller, cheaper and less complex systems than combat or armed drones.
Loitering munitions are an asset to the artillery branch of the Army as they are able to detect and take out static and moving targets across all types of landscape — from mountains to deserts.
The weapons systems is able to destroy radar installations, air defence systems and communication centres and dynamic targets such as enemy vehicles and troops.
What loitering munitions were tested in Ladakh?
Now, that we have a better understanding of loitering munitions, we take a look at the ‘Made in India’ weapons system that was tested in Ladakh in March.
The three loitering munitions were developed jointly by Economic Explosives Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd, and Zmotion Autonomous Systems.