{"id":9944,"date":"2025-04-13T09:35:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T04:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?p=9944"},"modified":"2025-04-13T09:35:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T04:05:52","slug":"646-precision-from-afar-indias-glide-bombs-and-the-changing-face-of-warfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2025\/04\/13\/646-precision-from-afar-indias-glide-bombs-and-the-changing-face-of-warfare\/","title":{"rendered":"646: PRECISION FROM AFAR: INDIA\u2019S GLIDE BOMBS AND THE CHANGING FACE OF WARFARE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My Article was published on the EurasianTimes Website <\/span><\/p>\n

on 13 April 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In early April 2025, India successfully tested two indigenously developed glide bombs. The first, Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) named “Gaurav,” was tested between April 8 and 10, 2025, from a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This 1,000-kg class bomb, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Research Centre Imarat, Armament Research and Development Establishment, and Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, demonstrated a range close to 100 kilometers with pinpoint accuracy. The trials involved multiple warhead configurations and targeted a land-based site on an island, paving the way for its induction into the IAF. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat praised the achievement, highlighting its role in enhancing India\u2019s standoff strike capabilities and self-reliance in defence technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second was the lightweight “Glide” bomb, called the SAAW (Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon), which the IAF and DRDO test-fired in Odisha. The SAAW is a lightweight, precision-guided bomb designed to target enemy airfields, runways, bunkers, and other reinforced structures at ranges up to 100 kilometers. Weighing approximately 125 kilograms, it features advanced guidance systems, including electro-optical sensors, for high accuracy. The weapon has been integrated with platforms like the Jaguar and Su-30 MKI, with plans to equip it on the Dassault Rafale and HAL Tejas MK1A. Three tests were carried out under varying release conditions and ranges, all successful. The DRDO Chairman announced that the SAAW is set for imminent induction into the armed forces, enhancing India\u2019s precision-guided munitions arsenal.<\/span><\/p>\n

These developments underscore India\u2019s push toward indigenous defence solutions amid regional competition. Both bombs offer cost-effective, accurate, and standoff strike options to engage targets while keeping aircraft beyond enemy air defences. In the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, long-range glide bombs have emerged as a transformative technology, blending precision, affordability, and strategic flexibility. These munitions, designed to glide over extended distances to strike targets with pinpoint accuracy, have redefined how militaries project power, neutralise threats, and minimise risks to personnel and assets.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Long-Range Glide Bombs<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Long-range glide bombs, sometimes called standoff glide munitions, are unpowered or minimally powered precision-guided weapons that rely on aerodynamic lift to travel extended distances after being released from an aircraft. Unlike traditional free-fall bombs, glide bombs have wings or fins that allow them to glide toward their target, often covering ranges from tens to hundreds of kilometers. They typically incorporate advanced guidance systems\u2014such as GPS, inertial navigation, or laser homing\u2014to ensure accuracy, even against moving or heavily defended targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The effectiveness of long-range glide bombs lies in their simplicity and adaptability. A typical glide bomb consists of several key components:-<\/span><\/p>\n