| DRDO Glide Bomb | |
|---|---|
| Type | Smart Glide bomb[1][2] |
| Place of origin | India |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2014–present |
| Manufacturer | Defence Research and Development Organisation[1][2] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 910 kg (2,010 lb)[1][2] |
| Length | 4.0 m |
| Diameter | 0.62 m |
| Warhead | CL-20 |
Operational range | Winged - 100 kilometres (54 nmi) Non-winged -30 kilometres (16 nmi)[1][2] |
Launch platform | Sukhoi Su-30 MKI[3] |
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.
Development
The bomb was designed by the nodal Laboratory Research Centre Imarat[4] in Hyderabad with the help of 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 fill their requirement of precision guided weapons.[1][2]
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.[5] On 17 August 2018, the IAF and DRDO did a covert successful trial of Garuthmaa and Garudaa at Pokhran firing range, Jaisalmer.[6]
Variants
There are two variants of the DRDO Glide Bomb:
- Garuthmaa - The winged version. It has a range of up to 100 km.[1][3]
- Garudaa - The non-winged version. It has a range of 30 km and in future the range will be enhanced to 100 km. It has onboard navigation and guidance systems.[1]
Operators
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "DRDO successfully tests 'glide bombs' in Pokhran". Times of India. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "India Successfully Tests One Ton Glide Bomb. Why That's Important". NDTV. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "India tests glide bomb". The Hindu. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ↑ "DRDO Tests 1000 Kg Class Indigenous Guided Glide Bomb". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ↑ "1,000-Kg Guided Glide Bomb Tested by DRDO". Indian Defence Review. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ "2 smart bombs by DRDO pass test". Deccan Chronicle. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2020.