The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth ₹810.79 crore with state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) for the Indian Air Force. The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Press Information Bureau said.

The contract covers the procurement of 160 SAT-SAAW systems along with associated support equipment. The deal made under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category aims to strengthen domestic defence production and the government’s push for self-reliance in military equipment.

SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The weapon is designed to strike critical enemy infrastructure from long stand-off ranges. Its targets include runways, bunkers, taxiways and hardened aircraft shelters.

The weapon can be launched from multiple Indian Air Force fighter aircraft, including the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30MKI. Its long-range strike capability is designed to allow aircraft to engage important ground targets while maintaining greater distance from the target area.

According to timelines issued by the Defence Ministry, BDL will progressively deliver the weapons during the financial years 2027-28 and 2028-29. The contract will add a new indigenous precision-strike capability to the IAF’s existing operational arsenal.

The ministry said that the induction of the long-range stand-off weapon will significantly strengthen the IAF’s strike capabilities. It will support missions against heavily protected enemy infrastructure during high-intensity combat operations.

The SAT-SAAW system also has 60 per cent indigenous content and aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It highlights the increasing role of Indian industry in the development and production of advanced defence systems.

Several important sub-systems of the weapon have also been indigenised by Indian defence manufacturers and technology start-ups. These include the initial measurement unit, long impact delay fuse and twin store carrier.

The deal with BDL marks another major procurement step under the government’s effort to increase the use of Indian-designed and manufactured defence equipment. The order supports the wider domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem- Indian industries and technology companies.