India is getting ready to test its domestically made 500-kg Precision-Guided Bomb (PGB-500) once again.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out these joint flight tests between September and October 2026.
The heavy-duty weapon will be launched from a Su-30MKI fighter jet.
According to recent reports, these crucial carriage and release trials are planned to take place at Air Force Station Jodhpur and the Chandan firing range near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
These tests mark a major step in India's ongoing push to build its own advanced aerial strike weapons.
Demonstrating that the project is moving steadily forward, the Ministry of Defence recently issued a tender on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for technical support during the flight trials.
This support will strictly follow guidelines set by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a key DRDO laboratory leading the bomb's design.
As a heavy 500-kg weapon, the PGB-500 gives the IAF a powerful, locally made option for air-to-ground attacks.
The bomb is large enough to destroy tough targets like reinforced military bunkers, command centres, and vital enemy infrastructure.
Despite its heavy payload, it is perfectly suited for carriage by India's heavier fighter jets without limiting their range and performance too much.
This upcoming test follows another major success for Indian military technology earlier this year. On May 7, 2026, the DRDO and IAF successfully conducted the first flight test of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) system from a Jaguar aircraft.
The TARA system is a special kit that turns regular unguided bombs into smart, long-range precision weapons, proving India's growing skill in creating modern aerial strike tools.
However, the PGB-500 is completely different from the TARA project.
While TARA is an add-on kit designed to increase the range and accuracy of standard existing bombs, the PGB-500 is a purpose-built, dedicated 500-kg smart bomb created from the ground up according to strict ARDE requirements.
The Su-30MKI is the ideal choice for launching heavy air-to-ground weapons like the PGB-500. The twin-engine jet can carry large payloads over long distances and has a proven track record as a testing platform for other Indian smart weapons.
DRDO has previously used the Su-30MKI to successfully test other heavy munitions, including the 1,000-kg Gaurav long-range glide bomb and earlier 500-kg bomb prototypes.
By expanding its collection of smart bombs, the IAF is boosting its ability to hit distant targets accurately without needing to buy foreign weapons. This capability was recently showcased during the Vayu Shakti-2026 military exercise.
In that drill, various Indian fighter jets, including the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas, and Mirage 2000, successfully simulated precision bombings on enemy runways, control centres, and bunkers.
If the PGB-500 tests succeed, the IAF will gain another powerful, home-grown weapon for its strike squadrons.
The trials in September and October will carefully check how well the bomb fits on the aircraft, how smoothly it drops during flight, the accuracy of its navigation system, and its overall safety.
The system is expected to use advanced GPS and inertial navigation for high terminal accuracy in order to strike targets in contested environments.
Strategically, this project is a huge leap forward for India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
By producing its own smart bombs, guidance kits, and range-extenders alongside partners like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private companies, India is building a strong domestic arms industry.
This local production gives the Air Force more choices in combat while drastically cutting down on costly imports from other countries.
