India unveils smart desi bomb that can cripple enemy's airfields 100 km away without crossing into hostile territory
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (
DRDO
) has wrapped up the development of the
Smart Anti‑Airfield Weapon
(SAAW), a 125‑kilogram and 1.85 m long glide bomb designed to put enemy runways and support facilities out of action from about 100 km away. The made-in‑India munition positions the
Indian Air Force
(
IAF
) to hit critical ground targets without sending aircraft into heavily defended airspace.
Weapon built for airfield denial
SAAW carries an 80‑kilogram high‑explosive warhead and aims to disable runways, taxiways, bunkers, radar sites and fuel depots. Because the bomb glides instead of using a rocket motor, it costs less to produce than stand‑off missiles of similar reach.
Dual guidance improves accuracy
Engineers combined an Inertial Navigation System with satellite signals from GPS and NavIC to steer the bomb to within seven metres of a target. A newer version adds electro‑optical or imaging‑infrared seekers, cutting the circular error probable to under three metres during the final dive.
by Taboola
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Stand‑off strike keeps aircraft safe
With a 100‑kilometre range, combat jets can release SAAW while still outside most surface‑to‑air missile envelopes. The weapon's compact weight lets it fit on many IAF fighters and trainers without affecting flight performance.
Compatible with multiple IAF platforms
Flight tests since 2016 have proven carriage and release from Jaguar, Mirage 2000, MiG‑29, Su‑30 MKI, LCA Tejas and Hawk‑i aircraft. Designers have also cleared the bomb for the upcoming HAL CATS Warrior unmanned combat air vehicle.
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Production and orders under way
The programme, approved in 2013, entered production in December 2021 when Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh
handed over the first batch to the IAF. Earlier this month the air force sent the Ministry of Defence a proposal to buy the satellite‑guided variant; clearance is expected soon.
Bharat Dynamics Limited
is the production agency, and officials are studying export options in line with India's defence‑export plan.
Next step: imaging‑infrared seeker
DRDO teams are testing an imaging‑infrared seeker to sharpen terminal accuracy even in GPS‑denied zones. Successful trials will move the system toward full operational clearance.
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