India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of its long-range glide bomb (LRGB) named “Gaurav” from a Su-30 MK-I fighter jet of the Indian Air Force. The test, carried out off the coast of Odisha, demonstrated the bomb’s precision by hitting a target at Long Wheeler’s Island with pinpoint accuracy, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Air Force, and industry partners for this significant achievement, describing the successful test as a major milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to develop indigenous defense technologies and enhance the capabilities of its armed forces.
According to the ministry, “Gaurav” is an air-launched glide bomb weighing 1,000 kg, designed to strike targets at long distances. After being launched, the bomb navigates toward its target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation system.
The project has been indigenously designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad. During the flight test, telemetry and electro-optical tracking systems deployed by the Integrated Test Range along the coastline captured complete flight data, ensuring comprehensive monitoring of the trial.
Senior DRDO scientists oversaw the flight, and the test involved participation from development-cum-production partners, including Adani Defence and Bharat Forge.
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 Gaurav glide bomb, marking a significant advancement in India’s defense capabilities
