BALASORE, October 16 — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in tandem with the Indian Air Force on Friday successfully concluded developmental flight trials of the indigenous 1,000-kg class Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav' launched from a Su-30MKI multi-role platform off the Odisha coast.
Engineered by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, the winged precision weapon deploys fold-out high-aspect-ratio wings post-separation, gliding autonomously along a programmed flight path to deliver sub-metric impact accuracy against hardened targets at stand-off ranges exceeding 100 kilometers. The weapon integrates a hybrid ring laser gyro inertial guidance unit coupled with India's regional satellite positioning constellation, NavIC.
Defence officials emphasized that indigenous precision-guided glide munitions deliver cost-effective long-range strike capability, empowering frontline IAF fighter jets to neutralize fortified command bunkers and hostile radar positions while loitering well outside adversary Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) interception bubbles.
The technical lineage of DRDO missile design centers (RCI, DRDL, and TBRL), the operational parameters of India's indigenous NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) satellite constellation, aerodynamic wing-glide weapon physics, and stand-off attack doctrines represent prominent topics across UPSC Civil Services (GS-III: Internal Security & Defence Technology) and AFCAT/CDS exams.