DRDO Glide Bombs

DRDO Glide Bomb / Gaurav Bomb
Gaurav glide bomb during trials
TypeSmart Glide bomb[1][2]
Place of originIndia
Production history
DesignerG. Satheesh Reddy, Research Centre Imarat (DRDO)[1][2]
Designed2014–present
Manufacturer
VariantsGaurav (Winged), Gautham (Non-Winged)
Specifications
MassGaurav - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[1][2]
Gautham - 550 kg (1,210 lb)
Length4.0 m
Diameter0.62 m
Wingspan3.4 m (Gaurav)
WarheadCL-20 (fragmentation, cluster munition, PCB)[3]
Detonation
mechanism
Contact and proximity fuze
Operational
range
Gaurav (Winged) - 100 kilometres (54 nmi)
Gautham (Non-winged) - 30 kilometres (16 nmi)[1][2]
Flight altitude10 km
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Inertial navigation system with GAGAN/NavIC satellite guidance and digital control[4]
Terminal: Semi-active laser homing[5]
Launch
platform
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI[6]

The DRDO Glide Bomb is a product of the Defence Research and Development Organisation to deploy a standardised medium range precision guided weapon, especially for engagement of targets from outside the range of standard anti-aircraft defenses, thereby increasing aircraft survivability and minimising friendly losses. The development was carried out by Research Centre Imarat whereas its production-cum-development partner are Adani Defence & Aerospace and Bharat Forge.[7][8]

The DRDO Glide Bomb has the ability to demolish a wide range of targets, such as reinforced buildings, airfields, bunkers, and blast hardened structures.[9]

Development

The bomb was designed by the nodal Laboratory Research Centre Imarat[10] in Hyderabad with the help of the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in Bengaluru, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh and Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune.[1][2] The team designed the bomb specially for the Indian Air Force to fulfill their requirement for precision guided weapons.[1][2]

Variants

Under the DRDO's Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) project, 2 variants have been planned:

  • Gaurav - The winged version. It has a range of up to 100 km and weighs 1,000 kg. It can carry either pre-fragmented or penetration-blast warheads.[1][6]
  • Gautham - The non-winged version. It has a range of 30 km, enhanced to 100 km in the future, and weighs 550 kg. It can also carry either pre-fragmented or penetration-blast warheads.[1] Although this bomb lacks wings, it does include a control surface that works in conjunction with the inbuilt navigation and guidance system.

The length of both bombs is 4 meters and the diameter of both bombs is 0.62 m. The wingspan of Gaurav is 3.4 meters. To guide the glide munition towards the target, DRDO Glide Bombs use a hybrid navigation approach that combines satellite guidance and an inertial navigation system with digital control.[11][9]

Trials

The DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested a 1,000 kg glide bomb on 19 December 2014 that covered a range of 100 km, guided through its on-board navigation system. The flight path is of the glide bomb was monitored by DRDO radars and electro-optic systems situated at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.[12] On 17 August 2018, the IAF and DRDO did a covert successful trial of Gautham and Gaurav at Pokhran firing range, Jaisalmer.[13]

Long Range Glide Bomb - Gaurav

Gaurav LRGB on display by Adani Defence and Aerospace.

DRDO and IAF successfully tested the Long Range Bomb (LRB) on 29 October 2021 from Su-30MKI at Balasore, Odisha. The bomb was released from 10 km altitude which successfully hit a sea based target using laser guidance. It is a 1,000 kg bomb which DRDO developed as an alternative to the Spice 2000. The LRGB is part of a family of newly developed precision guided munitions with a range of 50 km to 150 km in range.[14][15]

The Gaurav glide bomb was successfully tested on August 14, 2024, from a Su-30MKI, striking the target at Abdul Kalam Island with precise accuracy. Using electro-optical tracking equipment and telemetry provided by the Integrated Test Range, a team comprising DRDO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, and Bharat Forge tracked the trajectory and performance.[7][16][8]

Operators

 India

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "DRDO successfully tests 'glide bombs' in Pokhran". Times of India. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "India Successfully Tests One Ton Glide Bomb. Why That's Important". NDTV. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Annual Report 2022-23" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  4. ^ "India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb". Janes. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  5. ^ Gupta, Shishir (29 October 2021). "India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b "India tests glide bomb". The Hindu. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b "India Conducts 1st Flight Test Of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' From Sukhoi Fighter Jet". NDTV.com. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "DRDO carries out maiden test of Long Range Glide Bomb from Su-30MKI". The Hindu. 13 August 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Missiles | Adani Defence & Aerospace". www.adanidefence.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ "DRDO Tests 1000 Kg Class Indigenous Guided Glide Bomb". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. ^ "India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb". Janes. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  12. ^ "1,000-Kg Guided Glide Bomb Tested by DRDO". Indian Defence Review. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  13. ^ "2 smart bombs by DRDO pass test". Deccan Chronicle. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  14. ^ Gupta, Shishir (29 October 2021). "India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  15. ^ "DRDO, Air Force successfully test India's first indigenously developed long-range bomb". The Indian Express. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  16. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (9 August 2024). "Maiden test of long range glide bomb Gaurav from Su-30 MKI successful". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 August 2024.