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India Shows Its First Locally Built PULS-Based MLRS, Named Suryastra — with Extra Visual Intimidation

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Suryastra MLRS with cone-shaped mock-ups mounted on the missile transport-launch containers / Open source photo
Suryastra MLRS with cone-shaped mock-ups mounted on the missile transport-launch containers / Open source photo

During the first public presentation of its new Suryastra multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at a military parade, India appears to have decided that the system did not look intimidating enough. As a result, cone-shaped mock-ups were bolted onto the missile transport-launch containers

The new Suryastra rocket system, produced by Nibe Limited, was demonstrated for the first time at a military parade in India. The system is a licensed copy of the Israeli PULS MLRS developed by Elbit Systems and is being manufactured domestically at Nibe Limited's facilities.

The agreement between the companies for the local production of the PULS system under the name Suryastra was signed only in August 2025—approximately four months ago—and it appears that the first unit has already been produced within this timeframe. The Suryastra system is expected to be offered to both foreign customers and the Indian Army.

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Suryastra during a military parade
Suryastra during a military parade / Photo credit: X / @indicwin

It is worth noting that on January 3, 2026, India's Ministry of Defence officially announced the signing of a contract with Nibe Limited for the supply of an undisclosed number of Suryastra systems, with a total value of USD 32.593 million (approximately INR 293 crore).

The system's first public appearance is also notable for an unusual visual detail: cone-shaped elements, painted white with red tips, were screwed onto the missile transport-launch containers. Presumably, this was intended to make the launcher appear more threatening by simulating protruding missiles, albeit in the form of mock-ups.

Israeli PULS MLRS developed by Elbit Systems
Israeli PULS MLRS developed by Elbit Systems

The launcher displayed at the parade appears to be configured to carry two types of guided missiles. A four-missile pod contains EXTRA rockets with a range of up to 150 km, a circular error probable (CEP) of 10 meters, and a 120 kg warhead.

A two-missile pod carries Predator Hawk missiles, which have a range of up to 300 km, a CEP of 10 meters, and a 140 kg warhead. The system can also employ smaller Accular rockets, which offer the same 10-meter accuracy and a range of up to 40 km, with up to 18 rockets per pod.

The showcased Suryastra system is mounted on a Tatra T815 6×6 chassis, which is manufactured in India under license by BELM. Earlier, there had been speculation that India's PULS-based systems might instead be built on a russian KamAZ chassis.

The KamAZ platform is also produced locally in India, and in the past, the PULS system has already been demonstrated on this chassis during the ADEX 2022 international defense exhibition.

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