CHANDIPUR, October 6 — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully carried out a successful developmental flight test of the indigenous 1,000-kg class Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav' deployed from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter platform off the coastline of Odisha.
According to technical specifications released by the Ministry of Defence, the stand-off glide munition was designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. Following high-altitude separation from the fighter pylon, the weapon deployed its aerodynamic wing assembly and sustained stable glide mechanics toward a stationary maritime target with pinpoint terminal accuracy, fully satisfying all designated trajectory and blast-dispersion benchmarks.
The Gaurav LRGB integrates a state-of-the-art hybrid navigation package combining India's indigenous NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) satellite telemetry with an advanced strapdown Inertial Navigation System (INS). The precision-guided glide capability permits tactical aircrews to neutralize reinforced command bunkers, radar installations, and heavily defended runways from safe stand-off distances without entering adverse ground-based surface-to-air missile (SAM) envelopes.
Indigenous stand-off precision strike capabilities, the NavIC satellite navigation constellation, aerodynamic glide profiles, and DRDO aeronautical research labs form high-frequency test items across NDA, CDS, AFCAT, and UPSC Civil Services (GS-III: Defence and Space Technology). Candidates should note that the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) was conceptualized and founded in 1988 under the leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) to spearhead avionics, seeker, and missile navigation innovations.