IAF Set to Acquire 300 GAURAV Long Range Glide Bombs, Enhancing Deep Penetration Strike Capabilities Against Strategic Enemy Targets

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is significantly bolstering its offensive capabilities with the planned acquisition of 300 GAURAV Long Range Glide Bombs (LRGBs). These advanced munitions are designed to precisely engage and neutralize critical enemy infrastructure, such as airfields, bunkers, and fortified installations, from a safe distance.

The GAURAV LRGB is a sophisticated air-to-ground weapon system capable of carrying conventional warheads, making it a potent tool for deep penetration strikes. Its compatibility with the IAF's frontline fighter aircraft, including the Su-30MKI and Mirage-2000, further enhances their operational range and precision in combat scenarios.

With a range exceeding 80 kilometers, the GAURAV LRGB allows IAF pilots to engage high-value targets from a stand-off distance, minimizing their exposure to enemy air defenses. The bomb's advanced guidance system, which combines INS (Inertial Navigation System) and GPS data, ensures pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk of collateral damage and enhancing operational effectiveness.

This acquisition provides the IAF with greater tactical flexibility to effectively engage a wide array of targets, from runway denial to hardened structures, across diverse operational environments. The LRGB's compatibility with existing aircraft platforms also eliminates the need for extensive modifications, optimizing resource utilization.

Glide bombs like the GAURAV LRGB offer a cost-effective alternative to guided missiles for long-range precision strikes, enabling a more strategic and efficient use of resources in military operations. While the current order is for a limited series production of 300 units, the IAF may eventually require an inventory of thousands of such weapons to fully realize their strategic potential.

This move underscores the IAF's commitment to modernizing its arsenal and enhancing its capabilities in the face of evolving regional security challenges. The GAURAV LRGB will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the IAF's ability to project air power and safeguard India's national interests.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

??? Glide Bomb is air launched. Rocket assisted projectile is the ideal one , though the weight warhead will differ . But both can be used to strike targets located at a long distance.

Long range maneuvering projectile by General Atomics works on similar concept. ~120 KM range.

 

[Enforcer]

Seems like the US is using some advanced form of GPS for their own weapons.

Gaurav uses both GPS + NAVIC, still it achieves only 15m CEP. SAL/IIR seeker is needed for 5m.

I believe GPS itself is more accurate. They have way more satellites in the constellation.

Also that accuracy has to be achieved via satellite and INS only. Adding any type of seeker or other things will make the weapon too expensive and it defeats the purpose of low cost solution.

 

[The Presence]

I believe GPS itself is more accurate. They have way more satellites in the constellation.

Also that accuracy has to be achieved via satellite and INS only. Adding any type of seeker or other things will make the weapon too expensive and it defeats the purpose of low cost solution.

Bro our bomb has GPS + NavIC, then how come our's is less accurate then their's ?

This only tells me access to GPS is restricted for Non-US firearms.

 

[Enforcer]

Bro our bomb has GPS + NavIC, then how come our's is less accurate then their's ?

This only tells me access to GPS is restricted for Non-US firearms.

Their GPS module or the chip inside is most probably an advanced military only version that cannot be bought off the shelf market. We are probably using some version of commercially available version.

Also control surfaces and advanced calculations matter too. Maybe Gaurav's are inferior to Jdam. Remember Jdam itself was little unreliable in the beginning. I remember its CEP being around 10-12m when it first came in market. Many years of improvement later, it can be guided through a window of a building.

 

[Frank]

Yeah but that is Russian glide bomb. How accurate is ours compared to theirs? How accurate is gaurav compared to Jdam? Jdam's CEP is like less than 3m. Its very very impressive. Gaurav needs be at least under 5m CEP.

Given 1000kg explosives.. Cep of 10m enough

 

[Anant]

Great points. Good example. Folded wings or some design can be made to overcome the blast... shock waves. Sounds like artillery guns won't be practical solution to propel LGBs to a high altitude and cover lot of distance from where it can glide to its path.

Check @The Presence message. Long range maneuvering projectile by General Atomics works on similar concept. ~120 KM range.

Yes, but as I responded, the LRMP is a significantly smaller projectile, being essentially a modified 155mm shell. LGBs like the Gaurav are significantly larger and heavier than those, with an intermediate munition being a MBLR rocket.

 

[The Presence]

Their GPS module or the chip inside is most probably an advanced military only version that cannot be bought off the shelf market. We are probably using some version of commercially available version.

Also control surfaces and advanced calculations matter too. Maybe Gaurav's are inferior to Jdam. Remember Jdam itself was little unreliable in the beginning. I remember its CEP being around 10-12m when it first came in market. Many years of improvement later, it can be guided through a window of a building.

In that case, we too must do iterative improvements in batches.

GPS needs to be eliminated completely since it's providing an accuracy which is useless anyway.

NavIC constellation must be enlarged, and AI incorporated in the chipsets to improve accuracy.

 

[Enforcer]

Given 1000kg explosives.. Cep of 10m enough

Yes enough for 1000kg. But clearly you are not educated enough and no disrespect to you. When you want to carry out a deep airstrike, you have to count the fuel, payload and everything. It might not be feasible to carry large payloads. Also you might only have an option to fly limited number of aircrafts to target large amounts of targets.

Basically you might have to lower down to 250kg to 100kg glide bombs. All of them use the same kit.

I will give you an example, imagine a convoy of 50 tanks spaced apart enough to avoid being targeted by a single or dual glide bomb. A 100kg bomb for a single tank but to do the job but it will need to be accurate enough to hit the tank spot on.

Thus accuracy matters more than range.

 

[Enforcer]

In that case, we too must do iterative improvements in batches.

GPS needs to be eliminated completely since it's providing an accuracy which is useless anyway.

NavIC constellation must be enlarged, and AI incorporated in the chipsets to improve accuracy.

Cmon man, who said GPS is providing accuracy which is useless? are you talking about jamming?

AI chips wil be more expensive. Just stick to improving Navic and its chips to achieve less than 5m accuracy.

 

[Sridhar]

Long range maneuvering projectile by General Atomics works on similar concept. ~120 KM range.

But will it be similar to the Glide bomb with the same payload?

 

[Ajay]

May be 300 is ready inventory at bases and the focus is on making 1000s of kits. In Rus-Ukr war Glide bombs have emerged as a key weapon.
Interesting that even Russia focuses more on 1000kg bombs than the big ones.