With the development of the Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) by JSR Dynamics Pvt. Ltd., India’s domestic precision attack capabilities have advanced significantly. This thorough examination looks at this cutting-edge weapons system’s technical details, integration with the Su-30MKI platform, recent testing milestones, and strategic ramifications.
Established in 2018 as part of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ project, JSR Dynamics has become a leading Indian defence business with a focus on airborne guided weapon system research, development, and manufacturing.
Through domestic technology innovation, the company’s flagship LRGB program seeks to improve India’s standoff strike capabilities. The LRGB is an All-Up Round (AUR) system that was created especially to increase the MK-80 series warheads’ operational range, giving the Indian Air Force (IAF) a major tactical edge.
Mission planners can choose the right payloads depending on target characteristics and mission needs thanks to its modular weapon system’s exceptional versatility, which can accommodate a variety of warheads from the smaller MK-81 to the bigger MK-84. The design concept of the system places a strong emphasis on improved stand-off capabilities for contemporary air warfare scenarios, cost effectiveness, and operational flexibility.
There are several variations of the LRGB system, each with unique characteristics designed to meet the needs of a particular mission. The K-1260 (1350 kg weight class), K-720 (720 kg weight class), K-450 (540 kg weight class), and K-243 (300 kg weight class) are among them. Depending on the variation, the wingspans range from 3 to 4 meters, the diameters range from 290 to 540 mm, and the lengths range from less than 4 meters for the K-243 to less than 5 meters for the K-1260.
The typical LRGB configurations may reach remarkable ranges of over 120 kilometres when fired from an ideal height of 12 kilometres at 0.85 Mach, offering the launch platform a considerable amount of stand-off capacity. Strike aircraft may successfully engage high-value targets while staying outside the engagement envelope of many enemy air defence systems thanks to their extended range capability.
The IAF’s precision attack capabilities have been greatly improved by the integration of the LRGB with the Su-30MKI, India’s top multi-role fighter aircraft. This integration program has recently produced significant operational milestones. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out release testing of the LRGB’s ‘Gaurav’ variant from a Su-30MKI aircraft between April 8 and 10, 2025.
Because the weapon was connected with many stations on the aircraft in various warhead configurations, these trials showcased the weapon’s versatility and highlighted the system’s modularity and adaptability to diverse mission profiles. With recorded performance nearing 100 kilometres while retaining pinpoint accuracy against land targets located on an island, the tests effectively showcased the weapon’s remarkable range. This accomplishment marks a critical turning point in India’s domestic weapons development program.
As a 1,000 kg class glide bomb, the LRGB ‘Gaurav’ variation tested in these trials falls between the K-1260 and K-720 variants in JSR Dynamics’ product lineup.
Several Indian research institutes, including the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, the Armament Research and Development Establishment, and the Research Centre Imarat, created and developed the system in-house.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the successful trials, praising DRDO, IAF, and the supporting businesses for their joint efforts to develop India’s domestic defence capabilities. The LRGB system’s official introduction into the IAF’s operational inventory has been made possible by these experiments, which have greatly improved the service’s capacity for stand-off precise strikes.
The LRGB has many cutting-edge innovations that improve its operational efficacy in contemporary combat situations. Several terminal seekers, such as Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) or Passive Homing Head (PHH) technologies, can be coupled with the system’s advanced guidance package to greatly improve accuracy and attain the required Circular Error Probable (CEP) metrics for precision aiming.
While the PHH technology enables passive targeting of enemy radar and electromagnetic emissions, making it especially effective against air defence and electronic warfare assets, the EO/IR seekers give the LRGB the ability to autonomously identify and track targets based on their visual and thermal signatures. The weapon has considerable operational flexibility across many engagement conditions and target types thanks to its multi-mode seeker architecture.
Given the increasing use of electronic warfare in contemporary combat zones, the LRGB can be outfitted with GPS navigation systems that are immune to jamming, guaranteeing dependable performance even in electromagnetic conditions where GPS is either denied or contested. This crucial feature guarantees that even in the face of advanced opponent electronic countermeasures, the weapon can continue to provide precise guidance. Furthermore, JSR Dynamics has created even more sophisticated LRGB family variations, such as the Khagantak series.
Exhibited in partnership with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), the Khagantak-306 and 243 long-range glide bombs have remarkable operational ranges of 175 and 144 kilometres, respectively. These more sophisticated models have remarkable glide ratios above 12, offering improved standoff performance while preserving the possibility of a precise attack.
In particular, the Khagantak-243 is compatible with a Wide Field of View (FOV) EO/IR Seeker, which allows for long-range target identification and detection capabilities that improve the system’s operational efficacy.
With ambitious plans for future variations that potentially greatly expand the LRGB platform’s operational envelope, JSR Dynamics is committed to furthering the platform’s capabilities. An improved version of the LRGB with a jet engine and optimised control laws to improve lift-to-drag (L/D) and thrust-to-weight (T/W) ratios is one noteworthy improvement.
By more than tripling the stand-off capabilities of the standard glide bomb configuration, this jet-powered version greatly increases the weapon’s range to over 290 kilometres. Although it is not categorised as a conventional cruise missile, this improved LRGB version provides the IAF with an affordable long-range precision strike option, meeting the service’s need for stand-off attack capabilities without the hassle and cost of specialised cruise missile systems.
An important turning point in India’s quest for defence independence and domestic weaponry development capabilities is the LRGB program. India’s increasing technological maturity in sophisticated precision-guided weapons is demonstrated by the LRGB system’s successful integration with the Su-30MKI fighter platform.
The technology gives the IAF a flexible and affordable standoff attack capability that can be used against a range of targets, including naval vessels, air defence installations, and protected infrastructure.
The LRGB platform will probably continue to be a vital component of India’s aerial strike capabilities for many years to come as JSR Dynamics develops and improves it. It may also draw attention from foreign clients looking for reasonably priced yet efficient precision strike alternatives.
The LRGB family of weapons systems’ ongoing development demonstrates India’s dedication to creating advanced domestic defence technology that can rival those of other countries while tackling particular regional security issues.
India’s airborne strike capabilities have been greatly improved by the successful integration of JSR Dynamics’ Long Range Glide Bomb with the Su-30MKI fighter.
The system meets the operational needs of the IAF at a reasonable cost by combining countermeasure resistance, modern guidance technology, flexible warhead options, and remarkable standoff range.
The LRGB ‘Gaurav’ variant’s recent successful trials show that the system is operationally mature and prepared for official introduction into service.
With variations like the Khagantak series and the jet-powered extended-range model, JSR Dynamics is continuing to enhance the capabilities of the LRGB platform, positioning it to play a bigger role in India’s domestic precision strike arsenal.
This accomplishment helps India’s larger goals of defence self-reliance and technical sovereignty in addition to strengthening the country’s military capability.
