The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested its Long-Range Glide Bomb, Gaurav, off the coast of Odisha. The smart bomb was dropped from the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MK-I fighter plane. The successful testing of the smart bomb is likely to enhance the Indian Air Force's combat capability.

About the Long-Range Glide Bomb

Long-range Glide Bombs are smart bombs that enable the Air Force to hit targets that are beyond the reach of conventional munitions. They are dropped by a fighter plane at a safe distance from the enemy air defence system.

After being dropped from the fighter plane, the bomb pops out its wings and is guided to its target by an onboard satellite navigation system. These bombs are very useful for the Air Force as they can be fired from a safe distance from the enemy air defence system.

They are hard to detect on radar as they are small, do not use propulsion, and do not emit a heat signature that can be detected by radars.

Due to its strategic advantage, the DRDO is also developing a long-range glide bomb for the Indian Air Force.

Gaurav and Gautam bombs of DRDO

The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad laboratory of the DRDO, is developing long-range glide bombs named Gaurav and Gautham for the Indian Air Force.

Gaurav is a a winged long-range glide bomb which weighs 1000 kg and has a glide range of 100 km.

The Gautham bomb, which weighs 550 kg, is a non-winged long-range glide bomb with a glide range of 30 km.

The Gaurav bomb has a hybrid navigation system, which combines the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS).

DRDO is a premier defence research and development organisation under the Union Ministry of Defence. It was set up in 1958 to develop advanced defence technology to make the Indian armed forces self-reliant in weapon systems.

Headquarters: New Delhi

Chairman of DRDO: Dr Samir V Kamath