The Indian Air Force is preparing to acquire the advanced Indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW). This glide bomb will be equipped on the entire fleet of fighter aircraft, including Sukhoi-30 MKI, further increasing their firepower.
SAAW 120 kg bomb developed by DRDO is a smart weapon. Its range is 100 km. It is capable of hitting its target from air to ground with accuracy. This lightweight and high-accuracy guided bomb is one of the world-class weapon systems. According to sources, the IAF’s proposal to acquire the satellite-guided version of the SAAW air-launched glide bomb, similar to the one used during the Balakot air strike in Pakistan, is expected to be discussed by the Defence Ministry soon.
The proposal is being discussed at a time when the Indian Air Force is trying to acquire long-range weapon systems and has achieved major success in targeting terror and military installations in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor last month.
SAAW has been indigenously designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The weapon is designed to target enemy airfield assets on the ground such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks runways, etc.
The growing influence of AI in various sectors, including defense and internal security, will be discussed in a parliamentary committee meeting later this month. Union secretaries from the ministries of Home, defense, power, and Information Technology are likely to attend the meeting. The meeting is scheduled to be held on June 26. The agenda of the meeting includes the impact of the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related issues.
