The Indian Armed Forces have taken delivery of Warmate loitering munitions from Polish firm WB Electronics. The nation has purchased a number of Indian and Israeli unmanned systems in recent months.
The Indian Army issued a Request for Information for 100 man-portable loitering munitions in March 2020, mandating a range of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), an endurance of 30 minutes, and a maximum weight of 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
The service issued a Request for Proposal later in the year, stipulating that the order be completed within 18 months of the contract signing, Vayu Aerospace Review reported, speculating that Warmate was selected under the request.
The Warmate loitering munition was manufactured under Indian subsidiary WB Electronics India Private Limited, established in October 2020.
Warmate Loitering Munition
Propelled with an electric motor, the Warmate loitering munition is “self-contained” and can be transported over land by special forces units or installed on vehicles.
WB Electronics markets the system as an alternative to anti-tank guided missiles that can be equipped with laser-seeking, high explosive, and thermobaric warheads.
The system can also be equipped with a daylight or an infrared camera and is being supplied to Poland and multiple export customers. The Polish firm is also developing an air-launched version of the weapon system.
Indian Army’s Increased Acquisitions
In recent years, the Indian Army has ramped up its acquisitions of various drones and loitering munitions.
The service placed orders for 100 Elbit Skystriker loitering munitions to be manufactured in India, part of the country’s “Make in India” initiative to develop its domestic defense sector.
The army also ordered a similar number of “swarm-capable armed drones” from Indian firm NewSpace Research and Technologies.
Indian manufacturer Solar Group and startup Z Motion Autonomous Systems also tested loitering munitions to continue the trend of indigenization in the industry. Among them was Trinetra, similar to Warmate.
Sources: The Defense Post; Twitter