The Indian Air Force and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully test-fired an indigenous smart anti-airfield weapon which is a precision-guided bomb that can destroy aircraft hangars, radars, bunkers, taxiways and runways.

The smart anti-airfield weapon was test fired from a Jaguar fighter plane at the Jaisalmer firing range in Rajasthan and has a range of 100 km. This was the second successful test firing of the smart anti-airfield weapon (SAAW) from the Jaguar fighter plane in a week — it was earlier fired on October 28. The weapon has a range of 100 km.

“The two different configurations based on satellite navigation and electro optical (EO) sensors have been successfully tested. EO seeker-based flight test of this class of bomb was conducted for the first time in the country. EO configuration of the system is equipped with imaging infrared seeker technology that enhances the precision strike capability of the weapon,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

In both tests, the newly adapted launcher ensured smooth release of the weapon and intended targets were hit with high accuracy, it added.

SAAW is an important tactical weapon and will eventually replace the glide bombs which are currently being imported. Once inducted, SAAW will fill a critical indigenous capability gap.

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