Adani Defence, a major player in India's defence manufacturing sector, has announced a significant step forward in the nation's air-to-ground strike capabilities.
The Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), named GAURAV, has successfully transitioned to the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase. This achievement indicates that the bomb is nearing its final stages of development before being fully integrated into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
GAURAV is an indigenously designed and developed 1,000 kg class glide bomb, capable of precisely striking targets at considerable distances. After being released from an aircraft, GAURAV navigates to its target using a sophisticated hybrid navigation system that combines INS (Inertial Navigation System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) data. This system ensures accuracy even in situations where GPS signals are jammed or unavailable, a crucial capability in modern warfare.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) oversaw the development of GAURAV, with the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad leading the project. The move to LRIP demonstrates confidence in the bomb's design, performance, and reliability, paving the way for mass production and induction into India's defence arsenal.
The LRIP phase will focus on further testing and integration of GAURAV with various IAF aircraft. This will ensure the bomb's compatibility and effectiveness across different platforms. This crucial phase will also allow for fine-tuning the manufacturing process and rigorous quality checks to ensure the bomb can be mass-produced without compromising performance or safety.
This development is a significant boost to India's domestic defence industry and its efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence technology. GAURAV is expected to significantly enhance the IAF's long-range precision strike capabilities, providing a strategic advantage in modern combat scenarios.
