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^^^^^^^The article does not clarify if there are additional orders or the same orders. I mean why it is in news for what reason? Can anyone elaborate on this?
I think it is general or future discussion between chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik with reporterThe article does not clarify if there are additional orders or the same orders. I mean why it is in news for what reason? Can anyone elaborate on this?
The article does not clarify if there are additional orders or the same orders. I mean why it is in news for what reason? Can anyone elaborate on this?
Excellent news, but the IAF really, really needs to do something to check the crash rate.
India Developing Precision Bomb
PUNE, India, 5 September 2005 — Keeping pace with the development of missile technology by its archrival Pakistan, India’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune is developing a 450-kilograms long-range precision-guided (ER-PGM) bomb packed with high energy explosives. After being released by an aircraft, the bomb can glide up to 100 km before hitting its target with pinpoint accuracy.
Although Pakistan has bought a similar bomb from South Africa, Indian scientists are giving final touches to a better indigenous version.
The new bomb is designed to have a “tail” equipped with global positioning system-cum-inertial navigation system (GPS-INS) coupled with guidance and a “glide kit” (a pair of retractable wings) to ferry the bomb for up to 100 km before hitting its target with an error margin of not more than 3 to 4 meters.
A.S. Rajagopal, director of ARDE, said at a news conference here on Saturday that scientists at the institute were working on the bomb, but it would take some time before actual tests were carried out. Refusing to give any time frame for the development of the bomb, ARDE officials said a functional model could be ready by the end of next year, although the system configuration was complete.
Asked how the bomb compared with the one in Pakistan’s possession, an ARDE official said the Indian version would be fitted with tail and retractable wings to give it gliding and navigational functions. Once the bomb is released from the aircraft, the wings will unfold and the bomb will act like a high-speed un-powered glider. Besides, the bomb will be guided by a GPS-INS program controlling its tail unit. After traveling the required distance, the bomb strikes its target with great accuracy.
Elaborating on the advantages of the bomb, the official said the long-range bomb would be capable of delivering the payload (explosives) to the designated target with minimal risk to the carrier aircraft. The bomb also carries an element of surprise as it cannot be easily detected by the enemy. The precision GPS-INS guidance systems, the official said, also helps to maintain minimum collateral damage.
The official said the cost of a single unit would be much more than a conventional bomb, but its accuracy made it cost effective as the target need not be carpet bombed with a barrage of convention bombs. The bomb is designed exclusively for use by the air force but it can later be adapted into a barrel-launched army and navy version also, he said.
The ARDE is also developing a bunker buster which will first penetrate a hard layer of concrete and then explode to destroy bunkers and underground targets. Maintaining the traditional secrecy of the test date of the bunker buster bomb, ARDE officials said it would take “some time”.
Commenting on the rapid development of weapons programs by India, defense analysts said Indian scientists had developed several technologically advanced weapons, missiles and ammunitions in recent years, which may surprise not only its neighbors but also the West.
India Developing Precision Bomb
ER-PGM (Enhanced Range Precision-Guided Munition) (India) - Jane's Air-Launched Weapons
ER-PGM (Enhanced Range Precision-Guided Munition) (India), Bombs - Precision and guided munitions
Indian sources indicate that the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is developing a new guided stand-off weapon, known as the 'ER-PGM' (Enhanced Range Precision-Guided Weapon). The ER-PGM initiative is being driven by an Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement for long-range weapons to equip its Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000H and other combat aircraft. The ER-PGM is believed to be a precision navigation and range-extension kit that can be fitted to existing general purpose 'dumb' bombs. Several such systems already exist and it is not at all clear if India's ER-PGM programme is an entirely indigenous effort. Separate to the ER-PGM, India is acquiring other stand-off precision guided munitions such as the SAGEM AASM and the Crystal Maze (a derivative of the Rafael Popeye missile).