On Tuesday the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb (LRGB) Gaurav, launched from an Indian Air Force Su-30 MK-I fighter jet.

The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha. “Gaurav is an air-launched 1,000 kg class glide bomb capable of hitting targets at long distances. After being launched, the glide bomb steers towards the target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation scheme,” the DRDO said in a statement.

The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad indigenously designed and developed the bomb.

In its first test, GAURAV successfully struck the target on Long Wheeler Island. The complete flight data from the test launch was captured by telemetry and electro-optical tracking systems deployed along the coastline by the Integrated Test Range.

In the statement, DRDO said, “Complete flight data during the test launch was captured by Telemetry and Electro optical tracking systems deployed by Integrated Test Range along the coastline.” DRDO scientists closely monitored the test.

The flight was overseen by senior DRDO scientists, with Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, the Development cum Production Partners, also participating in the trial, according to the statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a significant milestone in India’s efforts to develop indigenous defence technologies, further enhancing the capability of the armed forces.

Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire DRDO team on conducting the successful flight test of LRGB.

Image source: The Hindu