IAF Successfully Drop-Tests the Indigenous Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Khagantak-243'

3 September 2026National

The Indian Air Force successfully conducted the drop trial of the indigenously designed and developed Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Khagantak-243', announced on 2 September 2026, meeting all mission objectives in a stand-off precision-strike programme. Khagantak-243 is a 300 kg-class airborne precision-guided glide bomb able to engage targets more than 140 km away when released from around 12,000 metres, letting fighter aircraft strike from outside heavily defended airspace. It was developed jointly by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which supplied the electronics and guidance subsystems, and private firm JSR Dynamics, which developed the bomb body and control systems. Glide bombs use aerodynamic surfaces to extend range after release.

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BEL is a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Bengaluru | DRDO's 'Gaurav' is another Indian long-range glide bomb, tested from the Su-30 MKI | The Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh; IAF motto 'Nabha Sparsham Deeptam'

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