Gaurav (glide bomb)

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Gaurav long range glide bomb
Gaurav glide bomb during trials
TypeGlide bomb[1][2]
Place of originIndia
Production history
DesignerG. Satheesh Reddy, Research Centre Imarat (DRDO)[1][2]
Designed2014–present
Manufacturer
Specifications
Mass
  • 500 kg (1,100 lb)[3]
  • 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[1][2]
Length4.0 m
Diameter0.62 m
Wingspan3.4 m
WarheadCL-20 (fragmentation, cluster munition, PCB)[4]
Detonation
mechanism
Contact and proximity fuze
Operational
range
30–150 kilometres (16–81 nmi)[5]
Flight altitude10 km
Guidance
system
Mid-course: INS + multi-GNSS and digital control[6]
Terminal: SALH[7]
Launch
platform
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI[8]

The Long Range Glide Bomb, also known as Gaurav is a product of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to deploy a standardised medium range precision guided weapon, especially for engagement of targets from outside the range of standard anti-aircraft defenses, thereby increasing aircraft survivability and minimising friendly losses. The development was carried out by Research Centre Imarat with production from Adani Defence & Aerospace and Bharat Forge.[9][10]

Origin

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The development of glide bombs by the DRDO was first reported in June 2013. The guided bombs would carry varying payloads of 100 kg (220 lb), 250 kg (550 lb) and 500 kg (1,100 lb). The agency had already conducted two trials of such bombs. The developmental trials were expected to be completed by 2014-end. The then DRDO chief also announced the development of an anti-radiation missile by the agency, which was later christened Rudram.[11][12][13]

Development

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The bomb was designed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI)[14] in Hyderabad with the help of the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in Bengaluru, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh and Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune.[1][2] The team designed the bomb specially for the Indian Air Force to fulfill a requirement for precision guided weapons.[1][2]

The length of the bomb is 4 meters and the diameter is 0.62 m. The wingspan of Gaurav is 3.4 meters. It has a range of up to 100 km and weighs 1,000 kg. It can carry either pre-fragmented or penetration-blast warheads.[1][8] To guide the glide munition towards the target, DRDO Glide Bombs use a hybrid navigation approach that combines satellite guidance and an inertial navigation system with digital control.[15][16] Gaurav is claimed to be able to destroy a wide range of targets, such as reinforced buildings, airfields, bunkers, and blast hardened structures.[16]

Trials

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  • 19 December 2014: A DRDO-developed 1,000 kg-class glide bomb was successfully tested in the Bay of Bengal. The bomb was dropped from an Indian Air force aircraft and covered a range of 100 km, guided through its on-board navigation system. The flight path is of the glide bomb was monitored by DRDO radars and electro-optic systems situated at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.[14][17]
  • 29 October 2021: DRDO and IAF successfully tested the Long Range Glide Bomb from a Su-30MKI at Balasore, Odisha. The bomb was released from 10 km altitude and successfully hit a sea based target using laser guidance. It is a 1,000 kg bomb which DRDO developed as an alternative to the Spice 2000. The LRGB is part of a family of newly developed precision guided munitions with a range of 50 km to 150 km in range.[18][19]
  • 14 August 2024: The Gaurav glide bomb was successfully tested from a Su-30MKI, striking a target at Abdul Kalam Island. Using electro-optical tracking equipment and telemetry provided by the Integrated Test Range, a team comprising DRDO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, and Bharat Forge tracked the trajectory and performance.[9][20][10]
  • 8 to 10 April 2025: Release trials of LRGB Gaurav were conducted from a Su-30MKI by DRDO at the Integrated Test Range, where it was claimed to have demonstrated a maximum range of 100 km with "pinpoint accuracy".[21][22] The weapon was integrated to several stations in various warhead configurations for land targets during the trials.[23]

Operators

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 India

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "DRDO successfully tests 'glide bombs' in Pokhran". Times of India. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "India Successfully Tests One Ton Glide Bomb. Why That's Important". NDTV. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  3. ^ "2023-24 Annual Report" (PDF). Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Annual Report 2022-23" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (12 April 2025). "DRDO conducts release trials of LRGB 'Gaurav' in Odisha". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ^ "India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb". Janes. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ^ Gupta, Shishir (29 October 2021). "India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b "India tests glide bomb". The Hindu. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. ^ a b "India Conducts 1st Flight Test Of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' From Sukhoi Fighter Jet". NDTV.com. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b "DRDO carries out maiden test of Long Range Glide Bomb from Su-30MKI". The Hindu. 13 August 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  11. ^ "India developing guided bombs for fighters". The Economic Times. 2 June 2013. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  12. ^ "India developing guided bombs for fighters". Hindustan Times. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  13. ^ Press Trust of India. "India developing guided bombs for fighters". Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  14. ^ a b "DRDO Tests 1000 Kg Class Indigenous Guided Glide Bomb". Press Information Bureau. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  15. ^ "India flight-tests Gaurav long-range glide bomb". Janes. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Missiles | Adani Defence & Aerospace". www.adanidefence.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  17. ^ "India tests 1000 kg guided Glide bomb which can hit target 100 kms away". India Today. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  18. ^ Gupta, Shishir (29 October 2021). "India's 1st long-range 1 ton guided bomb test-fired, hits target 100 km away". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  19. ^ "DRDO, Air Force successfully test India's first indigenously developed long-range bomb". The Indian Express. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  20. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (9 August 2024). "Maiden test of long range glide bomb Gaurav from Su-30 MKI successful". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  21. ^ "DRDO conducts successful Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' from Su-30 MKI aircraft". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  22. ^ "India Successfully Conducts Trials Of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav'". ndtv.com. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  23. ^ "DRDO conducts release trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav' from Su-30 MKI". The Hindu. 11 April 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 April 2025.