The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the Release Trials of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ from the Su-30 MKI aircraft, an official statement said.
During the trials, the weapon was integrated into multiple stations in different warhead configurations, with a land target on an island. The trials successfully demonstrated a range of close to 100 km with pinpoint accuracy.
The LRGB Gaurav is a 1,000 kg class air-launched glide bomb, and is capable of striking targets at long distances. After launch, the bomb navigates towards its target using a precise hybrid navigation system that combines INS and GPS data.
The glide bomb has been designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat, Armament Research and Development Establishment and Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. Senior officials of DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated and reviewed these trials.
Further boosting public-private partnerships under the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing, the system has been realised with the support of Development-cum-Production Partners, Adani Defence Systems & Technologies, Bharat Forge and various MSMEs. The trials are paving the way towards the induction of the weapon into the Air Force, the statement added.
After the successful trials of LRGB Gaurav, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complemented the DRDO and the Air Force. He said the development of LRGB will further enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces to a great extent with efforts to develop indigenous defence technologies.
