SOURCE: AFI
India’s defense ecosystem achieved a significant milestone with the successful development of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), a 1,000-kg class precision-guided munition designed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), and Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. Flight-tested in October 2024 from a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI off Odisha’s coast, the LRGB demonstrated pinpoint accuracy, leveraging an advanced guidance system and foldable wings to strike targets up to 100 km away.
As India celebrates this leap in indigenous technology, lessons from Russia’s use of the FAB-1500 glide bomb in the Russia-Ukraine conflict highlight why India should now prioritize developing a 1,500-kg class glide bomb. Such a weapon could enhance the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ability to deliver devastating, cost-effective strikes, countering fortified defenses and shifting the balance in potential conflicts along its borders.
The LRGB, developed under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), marks a leap in India’s precision-guided munitions (PGM) arsenal. Launched from fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, or Tejas, it uses a high-precision inertial navigation system (INS) augmented by NavIC and GPS for terminal guidance, achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters. Its foldable wings enable a standoff range of up to 100 km, allowing aircraft to strike from beyond the reach of short-range air defenses. Priced at approximately ?25 lakh per unit—far cheaper than missiles like the BrahMos—the LRGB offers a cost-effective solution for targeting high-value assets like bunkers, command posts, and infrastructure.
The bomb’s versatility across terrains, validated in coastal trials, aligns with India’s need to counter threats from China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Pakistan’s fortified positions. Integration with the IAF’s 270 Su-30 MKIs, 36 Rafales, and growing Tejas fleet ensures scalability, while plans for 500-1,000 units by 2026 reflect confidence in its operational impact. However, the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly Russia’s deployment of the FAB-1500 glide bomb, underscores the strategic advantage of heavier PGMs, prompting India to consider scaling up.
Since intensifying its offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2023, Russia has deployed the FAB-1500, a 1.5-tonne glide bomb, to devastating effect. Upgraded from Soviet-era “dumb bombs” at a facility near Moscow, the FAB-1500 carries nearly 700 kg of high explosives—almost half its weight—compared to the LRGB’s estimated 400-500 kg. Equipped with a Unified Gliding and Guidance Module (UGM), pop-out wings, and satellite navigation, it achieves a 60-70 km range when dropped from Su-34 or Su-30 jets at high altitudes, evading most Ukrainian short- and medium-range air defenses like the S-300 or Buk-M1.
The FAB-1500’s impact is profound: a single strike creates a 15-meter-wide crater, obliterating fortifications, troop concentrations, and infrastructure. Videos from Ukraine show these bombs leveling multi-story buildings and trench networks, enabling Russian forces to advance by neutralizing defenses before ground assaults. Over 3,500 FAB-1500s were reportedly used in 2024 alone, with production scaled to 4,500 units annually. Priced at under $30,000 per unit, they offer a cost-to-impact ratio unmatched by precision missiles, tilting the battlefield in Russia’s favor despite Ukraine’s Western-supplied defenses.
Why India Needs a 1,500-kg Glide Bomb
Russia’s success with the FAB-1500 highlights the strategic value of heavier glide bombs, offering lessons for India’s defense planners:
- Enhanced Destructive Power: A 1,500-kg glide bomb, with 600-750 kg of explosives, would surpass the LRGB’s capacity, enabling the IAF to target heavily fortified bunkers, underground facilities, and airfields—key assets along the LAC or in Pakistan’s military infrastructure. China’s hardened positions in Tibet and Aksai Chin, or its airbases within 1,000 km of India, demand such firepower.
- Standoff Advantage: Like the FABcomprising foldable wings, a 1,500-kg bomb could extend the LRGB’s 100 km range to 150 km with upgrades, keeping IAF jets beyond the reach of advanced Chinese systems like the HQ-9 or Pakistan’s LY-80. This mirrors the FAB-1500’s 60-70 km range, which protects Russian jets from Ukrainian defenses.
- Cost-Effectiveness: At an estimated ?30-40 lakh per unit, a 1,500-kg bomb would remain far cheaper than missiles like the BrahMos (?7-8 crore) or Western Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM, $1 million). Mass production, leveraging DRDO’s LRGB experience, could equip India’s 700+ fighters, amplifying strike capacity.
- Countering Regional Threats: China’s Y-20U tankers and J-20 stealth fighters enhance its air superiority, while Pakistan’s JF-17s pose tactical challenges. A heavier glide bomb could neutralize airfields or logistics hubs, disrupting adversary operations without risking close air support.
- Terrain-Specific Needs: The LAC’s high-altitude, rugged terrain and Pakistan’s desert fortifications require munitions capable of penetrating concrete or earthworks. A 1,500-kg bomb’s blast radius and shockwave would excel in such scenarios, as seen in Ukraine’s collapsed defenses.
Developing a 1,500-kg glide bomb builds on the LRGB’s foundation but presents hurdles. Scaling the warhead and airframe requires rigorous testing to ensure structural integrity and accuracy, particularly at extended ranges. Upgrading guidance systems—potentially integrating laser or electro-optical seekers alongside INS/NavIC/GPS—demands investment, though RCI’s expertise with Akash and QRSAM missiles provides a head start. DRDO’s collaboration with private firms like Tata Advanced Systems or L&T could accelerate production, mirroring Russia’s state-private model for FAB-1500 conversions.
Integration with IAF platforms is straightforward, as Su-30 MKIs and Rafales already carry 1,000-kg bombs like the DRDO’s SAAW. However, enhancing release mechanisms for heavier payloads and ensuring compatibility with Tejas Mk1A or AMCA (by 2035) requires planning. Budget constraints—India’s defense spending at 2.3% of GDP—necessitate prioritizing cost over Western equivalents like the GBU-31 JDAM ($70,000).
Russia’s FAB-1500 also exposes risks: Ukraine’s occasional interception using Patriot systems highlights the need for electronic countermeasures or decoys to evade S-400-class defenses. India could explore DRDO’s RudraM-III ALBM technologies for such enhancements, ensuring survivability against Chinese or Pakistani air defenses.
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