Rudrastra UAV Clears Key Army Trial At Pokharan, Showcases Precision Strike And 170-km Range
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Rudrastra demonstrated strong operational performance by covering a mission radius of over 50 km while maintaining a stable real-time video link
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has successfully completed a crucial trial of its hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV, Rudrastra, at the Pokharan Firing Range on June 11, 2025.
The test was conducted in accordance with stringent performance parameters set by the Indian Army, including precision strike capability, VTOL operation, high endurance, and mission flexibility.
During the trial, Rudrastra demonstrated strong operational performance by covering a mission radius of over 50 km while maintaining a stable real-time video link, and successfully returning to its original launch point.
#WATCH | Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has successfully completed the trial of its Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at the Pokharan Firing Range on 11th June 2025. The trial was conducted in line with performance parameters laid out by the Indian Army, including vertical… pic.twitter.com/vGhQn4maMX — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025
The UAV recorded a total range exceeding 170 km, including loitering time over the target area, with an estimated endurance of around 1.5 hours—meeting critical operational benchmarks for battlefield deployment.
A key highlight of the Rudrastra trial was the successful deployment of a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead. Dropped from medium altitude, the munition achieved a low-height airburst detonation, delivering lethal effect over a wide area and meeting critical tactical effectiveness benchmarks set by the Indian Army.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in India's push for indigenized defence technologies under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In a parallel development, SDAL recently tested a new low-cost counter-drone solution named Bhargavastra, designed to neutralize hostile drone swarms using micro-rockets in hard-kill mode. The trials, held on May 13 and 14 at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, were conducted under the observation of senior Army Air Defence (AAD) officials.
Three test rounds were executed — two single-rocket launches and one salvo-mode trial firing two rockets within a two-second window. All four rockets met mission parameters, demonstrating Bhargavastra's effectiveness against emerging aerial threats. SDAL highlighted the system's indigenous design and its dedicated micro-rocket and missile integration.
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