IndiaPosted at: Sep 26 2026 6:04PM


SkyStriker executes precision strike during India-US exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026

By Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) The SkyStriker loitering munition demonstrated its precision-strike capability during the ongoing India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, successfully engaging a designated target at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
The engagement showcased the operational potential of unmanned weapon systems in modern warfare, particularly their ability to combine surveillance, target acquisition and precision strikes in a single platform.
The demonstration also highlighted the growing importance of indigenous defence manufacturing and drone-based capabilities as armed forces adapt to increasingly complex battlefields involving unmanned aerial systems and multi-domain operations.
Developed by Israel-based Elbit Systems and manufactured in India through its partnership with Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies, SkyStriker is a loitering munition designed to provide tactical formations with an aerial precision-strike capability.
Unlike conventional missiles, loitering munitions can remain airborne over a designated area, search for targets and engage them when authorised by the operator. The SkyStriker can autonomously navigate during its cruise and loitering phases before striking an assigned target.
The system can carry either a 5-kg or 10-kg warhead, depending on the mission requirement, and uses electric propulsion that gives it a relatively low acoustic signature, allowing it to operate at low altitudes with reduced noise.
According to its manufacturer, SkyStriker can cover a distance of up to 20 km in approximately 10 minutes. Its endurance extends to two hours when equipped with a 5-kg warhead and one hour with a 10-kg warhead.
For target identification and tracking, the platform is equipped with a gimballed dual charge-coupled device (CCD) and infrared seeker, supported by a synchronised dual tracker. It can dive towards its target at speeds of up to 300 knots.
The system also incorporates abort, go-around and re-engagement capabilities, providing operational flexibility during missions.
Designed to support manoeuvring troops and Special Forces, the loitering munition offers an aerial strike option against designated targets while enabling forces to engage threats without relying exclusively on conventional ground-based firepower.
Its ability to combine reconnaissance and precision engagement in one platform is particularly relevant in operational environments where rapid target identification and response are critical.
The SkyStriker was also employed during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when the Indian armed forces carried out strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The demonstration at Mahajan Field Firing Range during Yudh Abhyas 2026 comes amid increasing emphasis on unmanned systems, precision weapons and technological cooperation in contemporary military operations.
UNI PWS SS
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