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In a significant achievement, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘GAURAV’ from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha on August 13, 2024.
The indigenous 1,000 kg class glide bomb, designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, demonstrated its capability to hit targets at long distances with pinpoint accuracy. The bomb uses a highly accurate hybrid navigation scheme, combining INS and GPS data, to steer towards its target.
The flight test was monitored by senior DRDO scientists, and complete flight data was captured by Telemetry and Electro optical tracking systems deployed by Integrated Test Range. Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, the Development cum Production Partners, also participated in the flight trial.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF, and industry partners on the successful flight test, terming it a major milestone in India’s efforts to develop indigenous defence technologies. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated the entire DRDO team on this achievement.
This successful test marks a significant step forward in India’s self-reliance in defence technologies and strengthens the capability of the Armed Forces.