Overview
- The Indian Air Force said the Khagantak-243 drop trial met all objectives when it was carried out on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, calling the test a significant milestone for the force and domestic industry.
- The Khagantak-243 is a roughly 300 kg-class, modular long-range glide bomb that uses inertial navigation and satellite guidance and is reported to reach more than 140 km when released from about 12,000 metres.
- JSR Dynamics supplies the bomb body and control surfaces while Bharat Electronics Limited provides electronics and guidance components and has a reported production arrangement with the IAF.
- The weapon was flight-tested from a Su-30MKI as the initial launch platform and still requires further evaluation, formal qualification, integration with other aircraft and scaling of production before entering service.
- Glide bombs are unpowered after release and rely on release altitude, aircraft speed, aerodynamic lift and onboard guidance for range and accuracy, so reported performance depends on launch conditions and some technical details remain provisional.