Mhow, MP. Pune-based defence manufacturer Nibe Limited has successfully demonstrated its indigenously integrated Garudastra 120mm vehicle-mounted mortar system, proving its high-precision tactical strike capabilities during rigorous military field evaluations.
The live firepower demonstration, conducted on an NC-NC (No Cost-No Commitment) basis at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, highlights India’s ongoing transition toward complex sovereign weaponry. Developed in technical collaboration with an international original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the Garudastra platform represents a major technological jump, transforming conventional, static infantry mortars into highly automated, vehicle-mounted precision instruments.
Masterclass in Asymmetric Shoot-and-Scoot Manoeuvres
The field evaluation commenced with a high-stakes combat simulation designed to prove the platform’s mobility and battlefield survivability. Modern counter-battery radar systems can trace an uncrewed or crewed artillery position within seconds of a shell being fired. The Garudastra effectively mitigates this vulnerability through its rapid deployment parameters:
- Combat Readiness: The vehicle moved into a temporary, unfortified firing position and achieved full combat readiness in under 30 seconds.
- Rapid Engagement: The system successfully targeted and fired two heavy rounds in less than 15 seconds.
- Evasion Timeline: To completely evade simulated enemy counter-battery fire, the platform folded and completely vacated the firing position within another 15 seconds.
Following this rapid evasion sequence, the mobile vehicle seamlessly relocated to its primary firing position, re-engaging its designated targets with absolute precision.
High-Volume Attrition and Simultaneous Impact
Beyond mobility, the 120mm system showcased intense firepower density. Operated by a slim, two-member crew, the automated loader mechanism successfully fired 12 sustained rounds in just 60 seconds while maintaining perfect structural stability. Furthermore, Nibe demonstrated the mortar’s sophisticated Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) software capability.
How MRSI Works: The vehicle’s onboard digital fire control computer automatically calculates three distinct ballistic trajectories and varying flight times. When fired in rapid succession, all three rounds travel along separate arcs but strike the target at the exact same fraction of a second, completely overwhelming enemy defensive positions.
Smart Munitions and Concrete Destruction
The pinnacle of the Mhow field evaluation involved testing the weapon’s extended-range smart capabilities. Fired from a substantial distance, a high-tech munition equipped with integrated GPS and laser-guidance systems scored a direct hit on a remarkably small 3-metre by 3-metre target grid.
The performance specification blueprint for the weapon platform is structured across five core system vectors. The system calibre is a 120mm vehicle-mounted tactical mortar engineered for a versatile targeting range of 7 kilometres to 10 kilometres. It utilises a highly automated operation requiring a slim, two-member crew complement. For specialised engagements, its warhead configuration carries a heavy 17-kg concrete-penetrating payload, while its targeting accuracy is sustained by GPS and laser-guided precision strike capabilities.
The system is engineered to accurately deliver a heavy 17-kg penetrating warhead capable of punching through up to 20 centimetres of reinforced concrete, making it an ideal choice for neutralising fortified enemy bunkers, communication outposts, and mountain strongholds at ranges up to 10 kilometres.
By successfully completing these advanced field evaluations, Nibe Limited moves closer to securing formal military procurement contracts under the Indian Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, shifting its corporate footprint from a sub-assembly manufacturer to a premier tier-one defence systems integrator.
