DRDO Glide Bombs
{{Short description|Smart Glide Bomb}}
{{Infobox weapon
| is_missile = yes
| name = DRDO Glide Bomb / Gaurav Bomb
| image = Gaurav glide bomb.jpg
| caption = Gaurav glide bomb during trials
| origin = India
| type = Smart Glide bomb{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jodhpur/DRDO-successfully-tests-glide-bombs-in-Pokhran/articleshow/53780015.cms|title=DRDO successfully tests 'glide bombs' in Pokhran|newspaper=Times of India|date=20 August 2016 |access-date=20 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://m.ndtv.com/india-news/india-successfully-tests-one-ton-glide-bomb-why-thats-important-715505|title=India Successfully Tests One Ton Glide Bomb. Why That's Important|publisher=NDTV|accessdate=20 August 2016}}
| used_by =
| designer = G. Satheesh Reddy, Research Centre Imarat (DRDO)
| manufacturer = *Adani Defence & Aerospace
| propellant =
| design_date = 2014–present
| production_date =
| engine =
| variants =
- Gaurav (Winged)
- Gautham (Non-Winged)
| weight =
- Gaurav - {{convert|1000|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
- Gautham - {{convert|550|kg|lb|abbr=on}}{{cite news |last1=Rout |first1=Hemant Kumar |title=DRDO conducts release trials of LRGB ‘Gaurav’ in Odisha |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/Apr/12/drdo-conducts-release-trials-of-lrgb-gaurav-in-odisha |access-date=13 April 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=12 April 2025}}
| length = 4.0 m
| height =
| diameter = 0.62 m
| wingspan = 3.4 m (Gaurav)
| speed =
| vehicle_range =
- Gaurav (Winged): {{convert|30-150|km|nmi}}{{cite news |last1=Rout |first1=Hemant Kumar |title=DRDO conducts release trials of LRGB ‘Gaurav’ in Odisha |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/Apr/12/drdo-conducts-release-trials-of-lrgb-gaurav-in-odisha |access-date=13 April 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=12 April 2025}}
- Gautham (Non-winged): {{convert|30|km|nmi}}
| ceiling =
| altitude = 10 km
| filling = CL-20 (fragmentation, cluster munition, PCB){{cite web |title=Annual Report 2022-23 |url=https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/DEFENCE%20AR%202022-23%20LOW.pdf |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=Ministry of Defence |publisher=Government of India}}
| guidance = Mid-course: Inertial navigation system with GAGAN/NavIC satellite guidance and digital control{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/india-flight-tests-gaurav-long-range-glide-bomb |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Janes |language=en}}
Terminal: Semi-active laser homing{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2021-10-29|title=India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-1st-long-range-1-ton-guided-bomb-test-fired-hits-target-100-km-away-101635521080880.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-30|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029161123/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-1st-long-range-1-ton-guided-bomb-test-fired-hits-target-100-km-away-101635521080880.html |archive-date=29 October 2021 }}
| accuracy =
| launch_platform = Sukhoi Su-30 MKI
| detonation = Contact and proximity fuze
}}
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.
The DRDO Glide Bomb has the ability to demolish a wide range of targets, such as reinforced buildings, airfields, bunkers, and blast hardened structures.{{Cite web |title=Missiles {{!}} Adani Defence & Aerospace |url=https://www.adanidefence.com/en/missiles |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.adanidefence.com}}
Development
The bomb was designed by the nodal Laboratory Research Centre Imarat{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=113801|title=DRDO Tests 1000 Kg Class Indigenous Guided Glide Bomb|author=|date=|work=pib.nic.in|accessdate=21 August 2016}} 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. The team designed the bomb specially for the Indian Air Force to fulfill their requirement for precision guided weapons.
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.{{cite news|url=http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/india-tests-glide-bomb/article6709249.ece|title=India tests glide bomb|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 December 2014 |accessdate=20 August 2016}}
- 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. 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/india-flight-tests-gaurav-long-range-glide-bomb |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Janes |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|title=1,000-Kg Guided Glide Bomb Tested by DRDO|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/1000-kg-guided-glide-bomb-tested-by-drdo/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Indian Defence Review|language=en-US}} On 17 August 2018, the IAF and DRDO did a covert successful trial of Gautham and Gaurav at Pokhran firing range, Jaisalmer.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-10|title=2 smart bombs by DRDO pass test|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/101018/2-smart-bombs-by-drdo-pass-test.html|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}
= Long Range Glide Bomb - Gaurav =
- 29 October 2021: DRDO and IAF successfully tested the Long Range Bomb (LRB) 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.{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Shishir |date=2021-10-29 |title=India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-1st-long-range-1-ton-guided-bomb-test-fired-hits-target-100-km-away-101635521080880.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029161123/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-1st-long-range-1-ton-guided-bomb-test-fired-hits-target-100-km-away-101635521080880.html |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-30|title=DRDO, Air Force successfully test India's first indigenously developed long-range bomb|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/drdo-air-force-test-india-first-long-range-bomb-7598371/|access-date=2021-10-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}
- 14 August 2024: The Gaurav glide bomb was successfully tested 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.{{Cite web |title=India Conducts 1st Flight Test Of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' From Sukhoi Fighter Jet |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-conducts-1st-flight-test-of-long-range-glide-bomb-gaurav-from-sukhoi-fighter-jet-6330959 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=NDTV.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rout |first=Hemant Kumar |date=2024-08-09 |title=Maiden test of long range glide bomb Gaurav from Su-30 MKI successful |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Aug/13/maiden-test-of-long-range-glide-bomb-gaurav-from-su-30-mki-successful |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-08-13 |title=DRDO carries out maiden test of Long Range Glide Bomb from Su-30MKI |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-carries-out-maiden-test-of-long-range-glide-bomb-from-su-30mki/article68521806.ece |access-date=2024-08-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
- 8 to 10 April 2025: Release Trials of LRGB Gaurav was conducted from a Su-30MKI by DRDO at the Integrated Test Range, where it demonstrated a its maximum range of 100 km with "pinpoint accuracy".{{Cite news |date=2025-04-11 |title=DRDO conducts successful Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ from Su-30 MKI aircraft |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120989 |access-date=2025-04-11 |work=Press Information Bureau |agency=Ministry of Defence, Government of India.}}{{Cite web |date=12 April 2025 |title=India Successfully Conducts Trials Of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-successfully-conducts-trials-of-long-range-glide-bomb-gaurav-8143101 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=ndtv.com |language=en}} The weapon was integrated to several stations in various warhead configurations for land targets during the trials.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-04-11 |title=DRDO conducts release trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ from Su-30 MKI |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-conducts-release-trials-of-long-range-glide-bomb-gaurav-from-su-30-mki/article69439542.ece |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Operators
;{{IND}}
See also
- BLU-109 bomb - United States