Illustration for representation. (© India Sentinels 2026–27)
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the design and development of “Vayu Baan” (air arrow) – a helicopter-launched loitering munition capable of autonomous flight up to 80 kilometres. The programme represents a significant step in indigenizing rotary-wing strike capability under government’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The procurement covers 10 drone units, two airborne control stations, two ground control stations, and associated payloads and spares.
What is Vayu Baan?
Conceived as both a loitering munition and a surveillance platform, the Vayu Baan is designed to extend the offensive reach of helicopter-borne operations without exposing the launch platform to direct threat. The system will be dropped through a helicopter hatch or door, fall to a safe separation distance, and autonomously deploy its wings before transitioning to guided flight.
Once airborne, it can be operated either by the crew of the launching helicopter via an airborne control station or by personnel on the ground.
Range, Endurance, and Altitude
The RFP mandates a minimum control range of 10 kilometres from the launch platform. For autonomous operations, the system must achieve either 50-plus kilometres at 30 minutes of endurance or 80 kilometres at 15 minutes.
The operational altitude envelope spans 150 feet to 8,000 feet, accommodating both nap-of-earth ingress profiles and higher-altitude surveillance passes.
Payload and Strike Options
The Vayu Baan’s payload capacity is specified at between 500 grams and 1 kilogram, with interchangeable mountings for three mission configurations: an EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) sensor suite for reconnaissance and target identification; a minimum 500-gram warhead for direct strike missions; and provision for integration with 57mm and 80mm unguided rockets, though the rockets themselves fall outside the contract’s scope of deliverables.
Autonomy and Navigation
The RFP sets a notably high bar for onboard intelligence. The system must demonstrate GNSS-denied navigation – a critical requirement given the electronic-warfare environment likely to be encountered – alongside AI-based target identification, real-time telemetry, and configurable strike profiles that allow operators to tailor the terminal engagement sequence. A 12-month delivery timeline from contract signing underscores the urgency attached to the programme.
Who Else Has This Capability?
India is entering a domain that several militaries and defence firms are actively contesting.
Israeli firm UVision, in partnership with American companies Fulcrum Concepts and Mistral, has developed a helicopter-launched variant of its HERO-120 loitering munition – described as the first of its kind – designed to be modular and requiring no deep integration into an aircraft’s avionics or fire-control systems.
The United States Army is actively pursuing helicopter-launched effectors as part of its Launched Effects Family of Systems, with medium- and long-range variants forming a planned tier within a broader loitering munition architecture. Short-range Launched Effects trials have included systems such as Anduril’s Altius-600 and AEVEX’s Atlas, test-launched from both Bradley fighting vehicles and helicopters.
France has advanced its rotary-wing loitering munition capability, with the DGA awarding the development contract for the Munition Téléopérée – Courte Portée to the Delair/KNDS team, selecting the MX-10 Damocles quadcopter design; 460 units have been ordered for delivery in 2025.
Russia fields the Lancet family of loitering munitions, while Iran operates systems with operational ranges between 150 km and 2,200 km, guided by GNSS with select variants equipped with electro-optical seekers. China, Taiwan, and Ukraine are likewise developing or procuring their own systems, making helicopter-launched loitering munitions one of the fastest-proliferating capability classes in contemporary warfare.
For India, the Vayu Baan programme is both operationally driven and symbolically significant. The IAF already operates the Israeli-origin Harop – a loitering munition with over six hours of endurance and a range of 200 kilometres, inducted at a reported cost of $100 million – but the Vayu Baan represents a push towards an indigenous, rotary-wing-integrated capability that aligns squarely with the broader “Make in India” defence posture.
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© India Sentinels 2026-27
