Defence Minister Praises Successful Trials of India's Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Gaurav'

Successful Development Trials of 'Gaurav'

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Air Force (IAF), and industry partners for the successful testing of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) named 'Gaurav' from the Su-30 MKI aircraft, as reported on Friday.

The Minister noted that the introduction of the LRGB will significantly bolster the capabilities of the armed forces.

The DRDO successfully executed the release trials of 'Gaurav' from a Su-30 MKI aircraft.

Conducted between April 8 and 10, the trials involved integrating the weapon into various stations with different warhead configurations, targeting land objectives on an island. The tests showcased a range nearing 100 km with remarkable accuracy, according to the official statement.

'Gaurav' is a glide bomb weighing 1,000 kg, developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat, Armament Research and Development Establishment, and Integrated Test Range in Chandipur.

Senior officials from both DRDO and IAF were present to oversee and evaluate the trials, as stated.

The system's development was supported by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and these trials are expected to facilitate the weapon's induction into the IAF.

The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification and the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance played vital roles in ensuring certification and quality assurance.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also extended his congratulations to the entire DRDO team for the successful release trials.

In a related development, last week, DRDO and the Indian Army successfully conducted four flight tests of the Army version of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on April 3 and 4.

These four operational flight trials targeted high-speed aerial threats, successfully intercepting and destroying them with direct hits. The tests were designed to evaluate the missile's capability against targets at various ranges and altitudes, confirming its operational effectiveness.