Air Force orders 50 laser-guided bombs from ADE

[bhramos]

After a series of flight trials, the Indian Air Force has asked the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) to make 50 laser-guided bombs (LGBs). These bump bombs called Sudarshan, hitherto part of IAF's vintage ammunition, are getting a life-extension with an improvised range and strike capabilities.

The ADE won the project for developing an LGB seven years ago and successfully demonstrated the capabilities during trials in 2010. "Our mission was to develop an advanced laser guidance kit for 1000 lb class dumb bombs so as to improve the accuracy. We demonstrated the same and now the IAF has asked us to make 50 Sudarshans," ADE director P S Krishnan told Express on Tuesday.

Krishnan said the laser-guidance seeker, fitted on the nose of the LGB, is the most critical desi component on board. "It's developed jointly by IIT Delhi and ADE, while BEL is the production agency. The guidance kit directs the bomb towards a target, which has been illuminated by laser energy using a laser designator system. The laser energy is reflected from the target and detected by the laser seeker unit on the LGB kit. The seeker provides information on the deviation of the laser sport from the centre line of the detector," he explained the features of the bomb.

Sudarshan has on board a flight control computer with microelectromechanical systems-based rate gyros. It also has high-precision linear ball-lead-screw actuators. A next-generation bomb (NG-LGB) is in the pipeline, but the scientists need to address the problem of rolling of the bomb, after its release. "The range of Sudrashan now is around 9 km if dropped from a normal altitude, and for the NG-LGB we hope to increase the range to 50 km," he said.

Air Force orders 50 laser-guided bombs from ADE - The New Indian Express

 

[sob]

This is excellent news. This kind of effort for joint development of the technology and backed by results, leading to orders from the forces is fantastic.

This not only is the first step in weaning of the imports of these smart bombs.

 

[bhramos]

Sudarshan has on board a flight control computer with microelectromechanical systems-based rate gyros. It also has high-precision linear ball-lead-screw actuators. A next-generation bomb (NG-LGB) is in the pipeline, but the scientists need to address the problem of rolling of the bomb, after its release. "The range of Sudrashan now is around 9 km if dropped from a normal altitude, and for the NG-LGB we hope to increase the range to 50 km," he said.

how would a laser bomb go 50 KM!!!!!!!

 

[sob]

This will come with GPS Guidance. Similar to what IAI has recently supplied for Gripen the only point being the range is 12 KM not 50 Km.

 

[Twinblade]

how would a laser bomb go 50 KM!!!!!!!

Wing kits or range extension kits like AASM powered by a small solid propellant booster. The 50KM variant is already under testing as revealed last month.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

That is very surprising..

Good development..

Wing kits or range extension kits like AASM powered by a small solid propellant booster. The 50KM variant is already under testing as revealed last month.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

At last something new in our AIR DEFENCE ARSENAL, AFTER A LONG TIME......

 

[bhramos]

At last something new in our AIR DEFENCE ARSENAL, AFTER A LONG TIME......

i think we already had some, which were used in Kargil by Mirage-2000 then....

the best part is they are Indigenous.....

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Basically these are kits, Can be added to most dumb bomb and make them Laser Guided Bomb ..

 

[Armand2REP]

Good for ADE, it is good not to see them rely on Paveways like we do. France can easily make LGBs of high quality, but we can't do it at the price point of the Americans. Laser guided AASM is twice the cost of Paveway, of course it is twice the bomb. As for ADE making an AASM equivalent, that is still questionable.

 

[sayareakd]

how would a laser bomb go 50 KM!!!!!!!

that will be glided laser guided bomb. Basically wind design is added into the bomb, that helps it glide to the target.

 

[Immanuel]

They need to fielded and tested asap, so that we can order 100K kits of each immediemente

 

[rock127]

Ok so we need some live target practice for these aging ammo... something like Muntho Dhalo

 

[Rahul Singh]

Good for ADE, it is good not to see them rely on Paveways like we do. France can easily make LGBs of high quality, but we can't do it at the price point of the Americans. Laser guided AASM is twice the cost of Paveway, of course it is twice the bomb. As for ADE making an AASM equivalent, that is still questionable.

They will actually find harder to replicate Escargot ('snails' yuk!) than AASM. Wait for couple of month and see for yourself what this roughly called Sudershan Mk-2 would pack.

Of course initially in terms of accuracy it will fail short of AASM but at series production stage (the time when IRNSS would get operation) it will exhibit nothing short of whatever.

 

[Armand2REP]

They will actually find harder to replicate Escargot ('snails' yuk!) than AASM. Wait for couple of month and see for yourself what this roughly called Sudershan Mk-2 would pack.

Of course initially in terms of accuracy it will fail short of AASM but at series production stage (the time when IRNSS would get operation) it will exhibit nothing short of whatever.

Considering the Russians can't even make a proper JDAM equivalent, I doubt ADE will get to the level of AASM. You are talking about another lab of DRDO here. They would waste resources trying to make Escargot into a high altitude survival food.

 

[halloweene]

Good for ADE, it is good not to see them rely on Paveways like we do. France can easily make LGBs of high quality, but we can't do it at the price point of the Americans. Laser guided AASM is twice the cost of Paveway, of course it is twice the bomb. As for ADE making an AASM equivalent, that is still questionable.

Jon Lake would tell you the opposite (paveway iv is superior to aasm, see starstreak forum )

 

[Rahul Singh]

Considering the Russians can't even make a proper JDAM equivalent, I doubt ADE will get to the level of AASM. You are talking about another lab of DRDO here. They would waste resources trying to make Escargot into a high altitude survival food.

Actually i am talking of a DRDO lab which was not supposed to make LGB kits of any kind in first place, it was even laugh at. But what we see today is other story......like i said, just wait and watch. And BTW DRDO won't bother wasting their resources for developing something for MRE menu which we Yuk at....

 

[ashicjose]

Why only just 50 ???

 

[sayareakd]

Why only just 50 ???

may be they want to do lip service, like army did for Arjun tank.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Why only just 50 ???

May be because IAF wants better CEP (quite obvious) and has ordered initial 50 for generating enough data (as per operational conditions) for passing on to ADE as user feedback for developing a 'B' model which shall have IRNSS aid.