IAF To Flight-Test 'In-House' Stand-Off Glide Weapon This Month

[Techy]

In March this year, I'd written about this never before set of three weapons shortly after they were first unveiled at the Aero India show in Bengaluru. The brainchild of the IAF's Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, these weapons made their second appearance today at the IAF chief's Air Force Day reception.

The weapons now have names. The Waghnakh, an unpowered stand-off glide weapon, which has been through carriage (see arrow pointing to photo inset) and compatibility trials on a Su-30MKI will be test-dropped from the aircraft this month, Air Marshal Deo told Livefist today. Deo has developed the weapons in a private workshop that he receives support for from the air force. The weapons have so far remained concepts given that they have no official sanction and aren't routed through the established DRDO-DPSU route to service entry. However, Air Marshal Deo and DRDO chief Selvin Christopher today not only shared a warm hug, but also agreed to "work together" -- this could mean the DRDO getting involved and helping Air Marshal Deo get the weapons going as inductable platforms.

The second weapon is the Varunastra long-range anti-shipping missile (not to be confused with the identically named heavy weight torpedo under development by the DRDO), a weapon powered by a mini-engine. Specifications below:


And finally, the Vel light weight cruise missile, again for deployment from a Su-30MKI. All three weapons are built with low RCS construction and will sport low observable paint, says Air Marshal Deo.


The three weapons received a lot of high-profile interest, with the Defence Secretary receiving an extended briefing on the family of weapons. Their unusual development path, fully away from the traditional route has evoked justifiable interest. The question is -- will these weapons ever see operational service?

LIVEFIST: IAF To Flight-Test 'In-House' Stand-Off Glide Weapon This Month

 

[Agent_47]

Give IAF an in-house R&D lab. Just like AFRL of USAF.
Air Force Research Laboratory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[migflug]

Excellent specification I hope they see the light of operational service

 

[GR!FF!N]

I think pic of Vel and Waghnakh was posted here..in some other thread,can't remember.

I think this one is Waghnakh..

India tests glide bomb - The Hindu

 

[MadDog]

In March this year, I'd written about this never before set of three weapons shortly after they were first unveiled at the Aero India show in Bengaluru. The brainchild of the IAF's Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, these weapons made their second appearance today at the IAF chief's Air Force Day reception.

The weapons now have names. TheWaghnakh, an unpowered stand-off glide weapon, which has been through carriage (see arrow pointing to photo inset) and compatibility trials on a Su-30MKI will be test-dropped from the aircraft this month, Air Marshal Deo toldLivefisttoday. Deo has developed the weapons in a private workshop that he receives support for from the air force. The weapons have so far remained concepts given that they have no official sanction and aren't routed through the established DRDO-DPSU route to service entry. However, Air Marshal Deo and DRDO chief Selvin Christopher today not only shared a warm hug, but also agreed to "work together" -- this could mean the DRDO getting involved and helping Air Marshal Deo get the weapons going as inductable platforms.

The second weapon is theVarunastralong-range anti-shipping missile (not to be confused with the identically named heavy weight torpedo under development by the DRDO), a weapon powered by a mini-engine. Specifications below:


And finally, theVellight weight cruise missile, again for deployment from a Su-30MKI. All three weapons are built with low RCS construction and will sport low observable paint, says Air Marshal Deo.


The three weapons received a lot of high-profile interest, with the Defence Secretary receiving an extended briefing on the family of weapons. Their unusual development path, fully away from the traditional route has evoked justifiable interest. The question is -- will these weapons ever see operational service?

LIVEFIST: IAF To Flight-Test 'In-House' Stand-Off Glide Weapon This Month

Congrats to Indian members, but you guys are way behind, PAF had developed these almost decade ago, H2 and H4 stand off weapon !!!

 

[Sheikh Hussain]

Congrats to Indian members, but you guys are way behind, PAF had developed these almost decade ago, H2 and H4 stand off weapon !!!

We know Pakistan is very scientifically advanced Country Brother its good finally we are also catching up!! Lets not make it another India vs Pak shouting match.

On a serious note, Are thses weapons only a tech demonstrator for something bigger being already in development ( either inhouse or with DRDO or may be with some foreign/private partner)?

 

[Agent_47]

I think this one is Waghnakh..

India tests glide bomb - The Hindu

No,That is a DRDO project also look at the weight difference.

A 1000-kg “glide bomb”, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

 

[GR!FF!N]

No,That is a DRDO project also look at the weight difference.

Its hard to track these new projects..so many...

That means,in one hand,India is already developed a 100 kg Glide bomb with a range of 100 km,in another hand,this one is a Light glide bomb with 150 km range..

Double Dhamaka.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

perhaps the potency of such weapons can be simply gauged by having multiple weapons in a single rack attached to a single hard point.

This single handedly changes a light fighter to a dangerous machine, and medium or heavy .... say su30 MKI with 4 hard points carrying 4x4 such small weight devices (as specified by Deo sir) and other points for say A2A missions for penetrating into hostile airspace.. I think we potentially will have an unbeatable combination.

Simple reasons
1. Light weight
2. Lower cost
3 Lower RCS
4 Even our C130s or C17s can be modified i guess to carry such weapons..
5. Imagine the Vel and Varunastras mounted on p8i with harpoons,,,

Implying we dont need to carry the super heavy missiles always. We can use this low cost options too and the best thing, we do limited precise damage and take out the targets .. This capability is far more fearsome then have a missile which takes out the target and the whole nearby area and risk high collateral damage.

Now the important thing is
1. Sanction an official grant for these weapons concept
2. Get TDs out for testing in the shortest period
3. First real live fire test should happen in a fixed time zone say max 18-30 months
4. Mass produce with multiple racks option
5. Explore the possibility of mounting it into LCH/ALH/LUH and ASW aerial platforms
6.Keep improving

We can leverage from our past working from inhouse projects...