Context: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ from the Su-30 MKI aircraft. 

Meaning of the context: The Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ enhances the standoff capabilities of the Indian Air Force and reflects India’s commitment to self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.

Learn More:

• Gaurav is a 1,000 kg class, air-launched, precision-guided glide bomb designed to strike high-value targets at long distances with pinpoint accuracy.
• Development: Indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Range: Capable of gliding up to 100 km when launched from high altitudes (e.g., 40,000 feet).
• Guidance System – Uses a hybrid navigation system combining:
  • Inertial Navigation System (INS): Tracks position via accelerometers and gyroscopes.
  • Global Positioning System (GPS): Ensures precise targeting, with potential integration of NavIC (India’s satellite navigation system) in future iterations.

About Glide Bombs

• A glide bomb is an air-launched, unpowered weapon equipped with aerodynamic surfaces (e.g., wings or fins) that enable it to glide over a long distance toward a target after release from an aircraft. 
• Unlike traditional free-fall bombs, it uses precision guidance to achieve high accuracy, making it effective for standoff strikes (attacking from a safe distance).
• Key Characteristics:
  • No Propulsion: Relies on the aircraft’s initial velocity and altitude for range, distinguishing it from missiles (e.g., BrahMos).
  • Guidance Systems: Typically uses Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, or laser guidance for precision (e.g., within meters).
  • Range: Varies from 30-100 km, depending on design and release altitude (e.g., Gaurav achieves 100 km).
  • Warheads: Configurable for multiple targets—fragmentation (soft targets like personnel) or penetration (hardened structures like bunkers).
  • Platforms: Deployed from fighter jets (e.g., Su-30 MK-I for Gaurav, Rafale, F-16 globally).
• How It Works
  • Launch: Dropped from an aircraft at high altitude (e.g., 40,000 feet) and speed (e.g., Mach 0.8).
  • Glide Phase: Aerodynamic wings or fins extend, allowing the bomb to glide, conserving momentum to cover long distances.
  • Guidance: Onboard systems (INS-GPS, laser) track the target, adjusting flight path via control surfaces for accuracy.
  • Impact: Strikes with precision, minimizing collateral damage compared to unguided bombs.

Source : PIB