The Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully tested the long-range glide bomb Gaurav. The bomb was deployed from the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30MKI onto a target standing on Long Wheeler Island near the coast of Odisha. The bomb hit the target precisely, completely annihilating it.
This bomb was designed by DRDO, but it's being manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace. A successful test of this 1000-kilogram bomb was also conducted last year.
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Let's explore the power, range, and lethality of this bomb.
The Indian Air Force needed a smart bomb capable of navigating and gliding to decimate enemy targets. DRDO stepped in for this purpose. Scientists designed two kinds of bombs, and after designing, the responsibility to manufacture these bombs was given to Adani Defence and Aerospace.
The company built both bombs: the Gaurav long-range glide bomb (LRGB) with wings and the Gautham bomb without wings. Both are precision-guided weapons.
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Reaching targets where fighter jets cannot go
These bombs are generally used to destroy targets that are beyond the range of anti-aircraft defenses. That is, they can be deployed in places where fighter jets, missiles, or drones cannot reach. This reduces the risk to the fighter jets and minimizes the chances of collateral damage. Gaurav is a 1000 KG winged long-range glide bomb, whereas Gautham is a 550 KG bomb without wings. Both bombs are 4 meters long with a diameter of 0.62 meters.
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Equipped with deadly explosives that obliterate targets
Both Gaurav and Gautham bombs contain CL-20, which includes fragmentation and cluster munitions. These bombs detonate upon contact with the target due to proximity fuses. Gaurav has a glide range of 100 KM, while Gautham can glide up to 30 KM without wings.
Both bombs are equipped with an inertial navigation system that reaches the target using GPS and Navik satellite guidance systems. They can be deployed on the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet. A successful test of the Gaurav bomb was conducted from a Sukhoi fighter jet in Balasore in October last year. The previous successful test was in 2014. Currently, the upgraded range of both bombs is between 50 to 150 KM.
