IAF to get 160 indigenous SAT-SAAW weapons as MoD signs ₹811 crore BDL deal
MoD signs ₹810.79 crore SAT-SAAW deal for the Indian Air Force. Image courtesy: pib.gov.in
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹810.79 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for 160 SAT-SAAW (satellite smart anti-airfield weapons) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force. Signed in New Delhi on Wednesday, the order places the Defence Research and Development Organisation developed precision weapon into the IAF’s procurement pipeline after years of flight testing.
The contract was signed in the presence of the defence secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The ministry said the air-to-ground precision guided glide weapon can be launched from Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30MKI aircraft to engage airfield related targets from stand-off distances.
A standoff weapon allows an aircraft to release its weapon from a significant distance from the intended target, reducing the need to approach closely defended areas. SAT-SAAW has been designed and developed by DRDO, with the IAF involved in its development and flight trials.
In October and November 2021, DRDO and the IAF tested two SAAW configurations based on satellite navigation and electro-optical guidance at the Chandan ranges in Rajasthan. The development stage weapon was then officially described as having a maximum range of 100 kilometers, while the electro-optical variant incorporated an indigenously developed imaging infra-red seeker.
An earlier January 2021 trial involved a release from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Hawk-I, while previous tests had also been conducted from Jaguar aircraft. DRDO’s research centre Imarat led the development, with other laboratories, the IAF and HAL contributing to the programme.
60 per cent indigenous content
The SAT-SAAW being procured will have 60 per cent indigenous content. The ministry said the programme also covers indigenization of subsystems it identified as the initial measurement unit, long impact delay fuse and twin store carrier.
BDL will now take the DRDO developed system into contracted production. Deliveries of the 160 weapons and associated equipment are scheduled during 2027-28 and 2028-29, meaning the September agreement represents procurement and planned production rather than completed induction.
