India Conducts 1st Flight Test Of Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ From Sukhoi Fighter Jet

New Delhi: India has carried out a “successful” maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb (LRGB) Gaurav from a Su-30 MK-I fighter jet of the Indian Air Force.

During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the DRDO, the Indian Air Force and the industry for the successful flight test of the glide bomb.

He described the successful test as a major milestone in the country’s effort to develop indigenous defence technologies for further strengthening the capability of the armed forces.

“The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out a successful maiden flight test of long-range glide bomb Gaurav from Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force,” the ministry said in a statement.

‘Gaurav’ is an air-launched 1,000 kg class glide bomb capable of hitting targets at long distances.

After being launched, the glide bomb steer towards the target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation scheme, the ministry said.

‘Gaurav’ has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.

“During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy,” the ministry 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,” it said.

The flight was monitored by senior DRDO scientists.

The ministry said the Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, the development-cum-production partners also participated during the flight trial.

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

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