The on Wednesday signed a ₹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 Indian Air Force (IAF).
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. The deal is aimed at strengthening the IAF's operational capabilities while promoting indigenous defence manufacturing.
SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can be launched from aircraft including the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI and is designed to target enemy airfields from long stand-off ranges.
The weapon system will have 60 per cent indigenous content. The programme will also involve the indigenisation of key subsystems, including the Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier, according to the Defence Ministry.
The weapons are designed to strike critical airfield infrastructure, including runways, taxi tracks, aircraft hangars and other installations. Their stand-off capability allows aircraft to engage targets without having to enter heavily defended areas.
The delivery of the 160 SAT-SAAW systems is scheduled to take place between 2027-28 and 2028-29. The Defence Ministry said their induction would enhance the IAF's operational capability and strengthen India's defence preparedness.
The contract is also part of the government's broader push for self-reliance in defence, with the procurement placed under the indigenous design and manufacturing category.
