Defence ministry inks contract with BDL for anti-airfield weapons

The defence ministry on Wednesday inked a contract worth `810.79 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the procurement of 160 Satellite Smart Anti -Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) along with associated equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Buy (Indian - Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.

Giving details, the ministry said the contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb which can be launched from platforms like Jaguar, Hawk & Su-30 MKI, and has the capability to neutralise enemy airfields from a long stand-off range.

Indigenously designed and developed by DRDO, the system will have an indigenous content of 60 per cent along with indigenous sub-systems like Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier to further boost Aatmanirbharta in defence. The delivery of SAT-SAAW is scheduled between 2027-2028 and 2028-2029. Its induction would certainly enhance the operational capability of the IAF to continue its unhindered operations and strengthen defence preparedness.