The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday signed a Rs 810.79-crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the procurement of 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) and associated equipment for the Air Force, in a major push to indigenous defence manufacturing.
The contract was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb designed to strike enemy airfields from a long stand-off range.
According to the Defence Ministry, the weapon can be launched from platforms including the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI aircraft, giving the IAF an additional capability for precision strikes against critical airfield infrastructure.
The system has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
It will have 60 per cent indigenous content, while several key sub-systems are also being indigenised.
These include the Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier, which the ministry said would further strengthen self-reliance in defence production.
The contract forms part of the government’s continued efforts to increase the domestic share of defence procurement and reduce dependence on imported systems.
The choice of the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category also underlines the emphasis on equipment developed and manufactured within the country.
Deliveries of the 160 SAT-SAAW systems are scheduled to take place in phases during 2027-2028 and 2028-2029.
The procurement will consequently add to the IAF’s inventory of precision-guided weapons over the coming years and is expected to support its long-range strike capabilities.
The Defence Ministry said, “Its induction would certainly enhance the operational capability of IAF to continue their unhindered operations and strengthen defence preparedness of the country.”
With the contract now concluded, BDL will undertake production and supply of the weapons and associated equipment as per the agreed delivery schedule.
The programme is also expected to advance the indigenisation of critical components and contribute to the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat objective in the defence sector.
– Ends
Published On:
Sep 23, 2026 19:11 IST
