The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs 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).
The contract was signed in New Delhi on September 23 in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The procurement has been undertaken under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb that can be launched from platforms including the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI. The weapon has the capability to neutralise enemy airfields from a long stand-off range.
The system has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The procurement of the weapons from BDL will provide the IAF with 160 SAT-SAAW systems along with associated equipment under the contract signed by the Ministry of Defence.
The contract provides for an indigenous content of 60 percent. Along with the procurement of the weapons, the agreement also includes indigenisation of subsystems such as the Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier.
The indigenisation of these subsystems is part of the procurement under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The SAT-SAAW programme therefore includes both the supply of the weapon system and further indigenisation of specified components.
The SAT-SAAW is designed as an air-to-ground precision-guided glide weapon and is intended for use against enemy airfields from a long stand-off range. Its stated compatibility with the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI allows the weapon to be employed from multiple aircraft platforms of the Indian Air Force.
The procurement of 160 weapons will add to the IAF’s inventory of air-to-ground precision-guided weapons. The weapon’s long stand-off range capability is intended to enable engagement of enemy airfield targets without requiring the aircraft to directly approach the target area.
The Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI are among the aircraft platforms identified for launching SAT-SAAW. The integration of the weapon with these platforms provides the IAF with the capability to employ the system from different aircraft types.
The contract also provides for the continued indigenisation of the SAT-SAAW system. With 60 percent indigenous content, the procurement includes the use of domestically developed and manufactured components, while the Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier are among the subsystems identified for indigenisation.
The Ministry of Defence has stated that the delivery of SAT-SAAW is scheduled between 2027-28 and 2028-29. The weapons and associated equipment will therefore be delivered to the Indian Air Force during this period.
The procurement is part of the Ministry of Defence’s Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, under which the SAT-SAAW system has been developed indigenously by DRDO and will be supplied by BDL.
The contract brings together the indigenous design and development of the SAT-SAAW by DRDO and its procurement for the Indian Air Force through BDL. The specified indigenous content and planned indigenisation of subsystems are also part of the contract.
SAT-SAAW’s capability to be launched from the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI and to engage enemy airfields from a long stand-off range provides the Indian Air Force with an air-to-ground precision-guided weapon for airfield targets.
The Ministry of Defence has stated that the induction of SAT-SAAW would enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force to continue unhindered operations and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country.
With 160 weapons being procured under the Rs 810.79 crore contract, deliveries are scheduled across 2027-28 and 2028-29. The procurement will add the indigenously designed and developed SAT-SAAW to the IAF’s inventory along with associated equipment, while further indigenisation of identified subsystems will be undertaken as part of the programme.
