Defence Ministry signs ₹811 crore SAT-SAAW contract

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹810.79 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited on 23 September 2026 for 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. The procurement falls under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category and covers an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb system.

SAT-SAAW: basic profile

SAT-SAAW stands for Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon. It is a precision-guided glide bomb designed for long stand-off strikes against airfields and related ground targets. The weapon system was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Platform compatibility and technical features

The SAT-SAAW can be launched from Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The system has an indigenous content of 60 per cent. Glide bombs of this class use aerodynamic lift and guidance systems to travel to a target without a propulsion engine.

Project timeline and induction

The indigenous SAAW project received approval in 2013. Flight testing took place between 2016 and 2021, and the weapon was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2021. Earlier variants of the system have already been combat-tested.

Important Facts for Exams

• Bharat Dynamics Limited is a public sector defence company under the Government of India.
• Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) is a procurement category used for domestic defence acquisition.
• Stand-off weapons are designed to engage targets from a distance beyond the range of many air-defence systems.
• Glide bombs are different from powered missiles because they do not use a rocket motor for sustained flight.

Delivery schedule and operational use

The 160 SAT-SAAW systems are scheduled for delivery in phases during 2027-2028 and 2028-2029. The weapon system is part of India’s air-delivered precision strike inventory for the Indian Air Force.