Sudarshan laser-guided bomb: Difference between revisions

'''Sudarshan''' ([[Hindi]]: सुदर्शन, "good-looking", also [[Krishna]]'s [[Chakra]]) is an Indian [[laser-guided bomb]] kit, developed by [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] (ADE), a [[Defence Research and Development Organisation|DRDO]] lab with technological support from another DRDO lab [[Instruments Research and Development Establishment]] (IRDE),<ref>{{cite web|author=Dehradun, Oct 20 (PTI) |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/106116/india-develops-first-laser-guided.html |title=India develops first Laser Guided Bomb |publisher=Deccanherald.com |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Nitsi |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/10/21/india-invents-laser-guide-bomb.html |title=India invents 1st Laser Guided Bomb |publisher=News.oneindia.in |date=2010-10-21 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref> for the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://netindian.in/news/2010/01/21/0004971/india-conducts-flight-trials-laser-guided-bombs |title=India conducts flight trials of laser-guided bombs |publisher=Netindian.in |date=2010-01-21 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref><ref name="msn">{{citation |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4480246&_p=544152d2-2200-4721-9dbc-eff67faec052#page=1 |publisher=MSN News |title=India develops first laser guided bomb |access-date=2012-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023005845/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4480246#page=1 |archive-date=2010-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="xinhua">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-10/20/c_13567264.htm |title=India successfully develops advanced laser guided bomb |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=2010-10-20 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>

The guidance kits for beam riding and providing an accurate flight path have been fitted at the front and rear ends of the bomb. The laser-guidance seeker, fitted on the nose of the LGB is a very critical component, which was designed jointly by [[IIT Delhi]] and ADE, with [[Bharat Electronics Limited]] (BEL) as the lead production agency. A [[laser designator]] is used to mark a target. The on-board seeker detects the laser light reflected from the target and signals the kit's control surfaces to guide it towards the designated target. The seeker provides information on the deviation of the laser sport from the centre line of the detector. Sudarshan has an on-board flight-control computer with microelectronic-mechanical systems-based rate gyros. It also has high-precision linear ball-lead-screw actuators.<ref name=tniex20f>{{cite news|title=Air Force orders 50 laser-guided bombs from ADE|url=http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1471238.ece|access-date=20 February 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=20 February 2013}}</ref><ref name=lastec>{{cite web|title=The Laser Science And Technology Centre|url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/LASTEC/English/index.jsp?pg=Director.jsp|publisher=DRDO|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatech5.in/video/indias-first-laser-guided-bomb-sudarshan/ |title=Description of the mechanism |publisher=Indiatech5.in |date=2010-05-23 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>

The ADE had successfully designed, developed and carried out the user trials of laser-guided bomb kits with the participation of the IAF.<ref name=tniex20f /><ref name="imr">[[Indian Military Review]], 2012, Volume 3, No. 5, May 2012, Page 54, Precision guided munitions</ref><ref name=is30s13>{{cite web|author=Air Marshal (Retd) AK Trikha|title=IAF's requirement of PGMs in the next decade|url=http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories3035_IAF_requirement_PGM_next_decade.htm|publisher=India Strategic|access-date=30 September 2013}}</ref>

On June 9, 2010, user trials of the laser-guided bomb kits were carried out at [[Pokhran]] test range with the participation of the IAF.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aroor|first=Shiv|title=DRDO: Indian Laser Guided Bomb Kits Successfully Tested By IAF|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2010/06/drdo-indian-laser-guided-bomb-kits.html|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Livefist|language=en-US}}</ref> Flight tests have demonstrated the accuracy, reliability and performance of these precision air-launched bombs. The tests were conducted after extensive simulation, design validation and ground experiments followed by series of flight evaluations.<ref name=ibnl9j>{{cite news|title=DRDO's laser guided bombs tested successfully by IAF|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/drdos-laser-guided-bombs-tested-successfully-by-iaf/2238.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126064156/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/drdos-laser-guided-bombs-tested-successfully-by-iaf/2238.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2013|access-date=13 July 2012|newspaper=IBN Live|date=June 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name=de9j>{{cite news|title=Laser guided bombs tested|url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/10june10/news1.htm|access-date=13 July 2012|newspaper=Daily Excelsior|date=9 June 2010}}</ref><ref name=oanan>{{cite web|title=DRDO's laser guided bombs tested successfully by IAF|url=http://www.oananews.org/node/127066|publisher=Organisation for Asia-Pacific News Agencies|access-date=13 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=dc10j>{{cite news|title=DRDO's laser-guided bombs display accuracy|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/74721/drdos-laser-guided-bombs-display.html|access-date=29 January 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=10 June 2010}}</ref>

The kit can guide a bomb within 10 m [[Circular error probable|CEP]] from its otherwise 400 m to 1000 m fall off the target.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Technology Focus|date=December 2010|volume=18|issue=6|pages=5–6|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/44208704/Indian-UAV-Programmes-Tech-Focus|title=Indian UAV Programmes|access-date=27 September 2014|publisher=Bulletin of Defence Research and Development Organisation|issn=0971-4413}}</ref> If dropped from normal altitude, it has a range of around 9&nbsp;km.<ref name=tniex20f /> A program to extend the kit's capability to further increase its range using [[global positioning system|GPS]] is ongoing.<ref name=drdod10 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://weapons.technology.youngester.com/2010/11/sudarshan-lgb-kit.html |title=Weapon and Technology: Sudarshan LGB Kit |publisher=Weapons.technology.youngester.com |date=2010-11-28 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>

It is expected to rival [[GBU-12 Paveway II]] in performance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defstrat.com/exec/frmArticleDetails.aspx?DID=234 |title=Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Made in India |publisher=Defstrat.com |date=2010-11-04 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514023950/http://www.defstrat.com/exec/frmArticleDetails.aspx?DID=234 |archive-date=2012-05-14 }}</ref> However, reports indicate that the kit may not support [[bunker buster]] bombs, forcing the IAF to look for alternatives.<ref name=sk44>{{cite news|title=Lockheed lowest bidder for laser-guided bombs for IAF|url=http://samantk.com/News/Defence/lockheed-lowest-bidder-for-laser-guided-bombs-for-iaf.html|access-date=13 July 2012|newspaper=Samantk.com|date=4 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=is12j>{{cite web|title=India set to acquire precision bomb technology|url=http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories13.htm|publisher=India Strategic|access-date=13 July 2012}}</ref>

The successful trials and flight tests in 2010 led ADE to further improve the bomb's accuracy. The Indian Air Force is upgrading a large number of unguided bombs to this standard based on the successful results.<ref name="imr" /><ref name=dc10j /> Sudarshan will be in service with the IAF bombers squadrons of [[Mikoyan MiG-27|Mig-27]] and [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]. Also, several other fighters in the IAF could carry these bombs for the air-to-ground attack tasks like [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Su-30MKI]], [[Dassault Mirage 2000#India|Mirage-2000]] and [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]].<ref name="xinhua"/> It might also be used by the [[Indian Army]] for its long range artillery strike weapon and [[Indian Navy]] from an on-board launcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports/4081 |title=A 2008 news report |publisher=India-defence.com |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>

* [[GBU-12 Paveway II]]