The DRDO SAAW (Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon) is a long-range precision anti-aircraft weapon developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization of India. It is designed to engage ground targets with high accuracy at distances of up to 100 km. The SAAW project was given approval by the Indian Government in the year 2013. The first successful tests of the weapon were carried out in the year 2016. Another successful test was carried out in the year 2017. Later, in 2017, it went through three more successful tests. In the month of August 2018, three successful tests were conducted, for a total of eight tests. In the year 2020, the Indian Government approved SAAW procurement for Air Force and Navy.
Highlights
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully tested the indigenous smart anti-airfield weapon SAAW developed off the coast of the state of Orissa using a jet from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited named Hawk-i.
Features of Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon
This weapon was developed to attack ground targets, especially enemy airfield infrastructure or similar strategically important facilities. SAAW was designed and developed by RCI Hyderabad’s DRDO Research Center Imarat. This is a 125kg class intelligent weapon capable of attacking enemy airfield resources such as radar, bunkers, taxi lanes and runaways up to 100km. Precision-guided munitions are lighter than their class of weapons systems. Successful 9th ??system test in the last 5 years. This time we used HAL Hawk1 to expand the range of our weapons system. The Indian Government has plans to integrate this weapon into Dassault Rafale. Previously Jaguar tests were conducted.
Details of Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon
According to the authorities, the system belongs to the category of glide bombs, its development began around the year 2012-13, with significant contributions from the Indian Air Force and the first tests conducted in the year 2016. This weapon is intended to attack ground targets, especially enemy airfield infrastructure or similar strategically important facilities. It was the start of the textbook that achieved all the objectives of the mission. A telemetry and tracking system installed in the Interim Test Range (ITR) in the city of Balasore recorded all mission events.
Significance
SAAW tests were conducted on another weapon system designed to target the enemy radar and communications equipment Rudram. Tested in the year 2020. The Rudram is an air-to-ground missile designed and developed by DRDO. This is a joint effort of various DRDO facilities and HAL formations and IAF, launched about eight years ago for the development and integration of this type of anti-radar missile into fighters.
About Anti-Radiation Missile
They are designed to track, detect and neutralize enemy radar, various other radio frequency sources and communications equipment that are commonly part of air defense systems.
