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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking a significant step towards modernising its conventional weapons stockpile by inviting domestic innovators to upgrade its traditional munitions.
Through the ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) framework, the IAF is challenging the Indian private sector to engineer a booster-assisted Range Extension Kit (REK) that will convert its standard 450 kg High Speed Low Drag (HSLD) bombs into highly accurate, long-range smart weapons equipped with Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) seekers.
Currently, the 450 kg HSLD bombs in the military’s inventory operate strictly as free-falling, unguided weapons.
To guarantee a hit, fighter pilots must fly uncomfortably close to the target zone.
This tactical limitation severely restricts the operational range of the munitions and exposes both the aviator and the aircraft to the lethal reach of modern enemy air defence networks.
To overcome this vulnerability, the military is seeking a modular "strap-on" kit featuring a propulsion booster.
Beyond simply pushing the bomb further, the upgrade will integrate an advanced EO/IR sensor to provide terminal guidance.
This means that in the final stages of its flight, the weapon will use independent scene-matching software to visually locate, track, and strike its designated target without requiring active input from the pilot.
This visual and thermal tracking capability is crucial for modern combat, where adversaries frequently jam or manipulate satellite navigation signals like GPS or India's NavIC.
Because the EO/IR seeker does not rely on satellite data, the weapon will remain highly reliable even in intense electronic warfare environments.
Once upgraded, these bombs are expected to achieve a remarkable strike range of over 200 kilometres when released at subsonic speeds from a moderate altitude of 5 kilometres.
Pinpoint accuracy is another mandatory benchmark for the project.
The IAF has requested a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of under 5 metres, ideally aiming for a margin of error of less than 3 metres.
Such extreme precision will allow the military to neutralise critical infrastructure or high-value assets while drastically reducing the risk of unwanted collateral damage.
Furthermore, the software must allow mission planners to pre-program specific angles and directions of attack, ensuring the bomb can effectively penetrate fortified bunkers or targets shielded by difficult terrain.
Logistically, the new hardware must be universally compatible with the diverse array of fighter jets currently operated by the IAF, ranging from Russian-origin platforms like the Su-30MKI to Western-origin jets like the Rafale or Mirage 2000.
The kits must attach seamlessly to existing bomb racks without demanding complex or costly modifications to the aircraft's internal systems.
Additionally, the military has stressed that the kits must be easy to handle, transport, and maintain.
They must also be stable enough to be stored fully assembled for long periods, guaranteeing they are ready for immediate deployment during a crisis.
Ultimately, this challenge highlights India's strategic push towards self-reliance in military technology.
By engaging local startups, research hubs, and private enterprises through the ADITI initiative, the government is fostering domestic innovation.
Choosing to retrofit thousands of existing gravity bombs rather than importing entirely new precision missiles offers a highly economical and practical path to significantly elevating India's aerial combat capabilities.
