http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=69554&d=5&m=9&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Monday, 5, September, 2005 (01, Sha`ban, 1426)
India Developing Precision Bomb
Shahid Raza Burney, Arab News
PUNE, India, 5 September 2005 - Keeping pace with the
development of missile technology by its archrival Pakistan, India's Armament
Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune is developing a
450-kilograms long-range precision-guided (ER-PGM) bomb packed with high energy
explosives. After being released by an aircraft, the bomb can glide up to 100
km before hitting its target with pinpoint accuracy.
Although Pakistan has bought a similar bomb from South
Africa, Indian scientists are giving final touches to a better indigenous
version.
The new bomb is designed to have a "tail" equipped with
global positioning system-cum-inertial navigation system (GPS-INS) coupled with
guidance and a "glide kit" (a pair of retractable wings) to ferry the bomb for
up to 100 km before hitting its target with an error margin of not more than 3
to 4 meters.
A.S. Rajagopal, director of ARDE, said at a news conference
here on Saturday that scientists at the institute were working on the bomb, but
it would take some time before actual tests were carried out. Refusing to give
any time frame for the development of the bomb, ARDE officials said a
functional model could be ready by the end of next year, although the system
configuration was complete.
Asked how the bomb compared with the one in Pakistan's
possession, an ARDE official said the Indian version would be fitted with tail
and retractable wings to give it gliding and navigational functions. Once the
bomb is released from the aircraft, the wings will unfold and the bomb will act
like a high-speed un-powered glider. Besides, the bomb will be guided by a
GPS-INS program controlling its tail unit. After traveling the required
distance, the bomb strikes its target with great accuracy.
Elaborating on the advantages of the bomb, the official said
the long-range bomb would be capable of delivering the payload (explosives) to
the designated target with minimal risk to the carrier aircraft. The bomb also
carries an element of surprise as it cannot be easily detected by the enemy.
The precision GPS-INS guidance systems, the official said, also helps to
maintain minimum collateral damage.
The official said the cost of a single unit would be much
more than a conventional bomb, but its accuracy made it cost effective as the
target need not be carpet bombed with a barrage of convention bombs. The bomb
is designed exclusively for use by the air force but it can later be adapted
into a barrel-launched army and navy version also, he said.
The ARDE is also developing a bunker buster which will first
penetrate a hard layer of concrete and then explode to destroy bunkers and
underground targets. Maintaining the traditional secrecy of the test date of
the bunker buster bomb, ARDE officials said it would take "some time".
Commenting on the rapid development of weapons programs by
India, defense analysts said Indian scientists had developed several
technologically advanced weapons, missiles and ammunitions in recent years,
which may surprise not only its neighbors but also the West.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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