Indigenous Loitering Munition Successfully Tested At Pokhran

An indigenous loitering munition achieved a significant milestone by successfully showing its strike capacity during tests held at Pokhran on Thursday. This munition is also known as ALS-50 and is capable of operating in challenging terrain and at high altitudes.

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has built this autonomous system that will be soon inducted into the armed services. It is designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). According to officials, it successfully hit the ground target during trials, using an explosive warhead during the test. 

This test is significant as the defence ministry opened the door for private sectors in the defence sector. In recent years, the private sector has increased efforts to create customised solutions for the armed services.

The ALS-50 has also proven its capability to function in high-altitude zones during tests in Ladakh earlier this year. It can take off like a quadcopter and switch into fixed wing mode during flight for long-distance travel.

The ALS-50 was created by a group of young engineers at TASL. It contains an autonomous targeting system that can successfully locate the pre-set target. According to the needs of the armed forces, the system can be scaled up to boost range and payload capability. In future developments, swarming and artificial intelligence can be integrated. 

Due to its VTOL capacity, the device can manoeuvre in narrow spaces like vessel decks, entrenched mountain positions, small jungle clearings and valleys. 

Various hovering bombs, or "suicide drones," that may be deployed to precisely destroy high-value targets like command centres, missile launchers, and enemy armour have been sought after by the armed services.