Photo source: Adani Defence & Aerospace
New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a successful maiden flight test of Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), GAURAV from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Ministry of Defence stated here today. The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha, it disclosed.
During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy. Complete flight data during the test launch was captured by Telemetry and Electro-optical tracking systems deployed by the Integrated Test Range along the coastline, the Ministry said.
‘GAURAV’ has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. Its flight was monitored by senior DRDO scientists. Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, the development cum production partners, also participated during the flight trial.
An air-launched 1,000 kg class glide bomb, ‘GAURAV’ is capable of hitting targets at long distances. It has the following key features as per Adani Defence & Aerospace:
- Air to Surface Long Range Glide Bomb with conventional warheads to destroy enemy airstrips, bunkers, hard installations, buildings etc.
- Designed to integrate with fighter aircraft
- Inertial Navigation based guidance system with Digital Control
After being launched, the glide bomb steers towards the target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation scheme with a combination of an inertial navigation system (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) data. This means the use of GPS satellite signals to correct or calibrate a solution from an inertial navigation system (INS).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF and industry for the successful flight test. He termed it a major milestone in the country’s effort to develop indigenous defence technologies for further strengthening the capability of the Armed Forces.
Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire DRDO team on conducting the successful flight test of LRGB.
– global bihari bureau
