Bhubaneswar: India has achieved a significant milestone in its defense capabilities by conducting the maiden flight test of its indigenous long-range glide bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ from a Su-30 MK-I fighter jet of the Indian Air Force. The test, which took place off the coast of Odisha, saw the glide bomb successfully hit its target with pinpoint accuracy at Long Wheeler’s Island, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Air Force, and the domestic defense industry for this successful trial. He hailed the test as a crucial step forward in India’s efforts to develop indigenous defense technologies, which are essential for enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence noted, “The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out the successful maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb Gaurav from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force.”
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Advanced Capabilities of ‘Gaurav’
The ‘Gaurav’ glide bomb is a 1,000 kg class air-launched weapon designed to engage targets at long distances. Once launched, the bomb steers itself towards the target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation system, ensuring precise strikes even from significant ranges.
The bomb was designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, a key DRDO facility. During the test, ‘Gaurav’ demonstrated its capabilities by hitting the target with exact precision, as confirmed by the ministry. “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 statement added.
Successful Collaboration and Monitoring
The test flight was closely monitored by senior DRDO scientists, with critical data being collected to assess the bomb’s performance. The Ministry of Defence also acknowledged the participation of Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, the development-cum-production partners, who played a vital role in the successful trial.
Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the entire DRDO team on the successful flight test of the LRGB ‘Gaurav,’ underscoring the importance of this achievement in bolstering India’s defense preparedness.
