Defence Ministry Deal With BDL: The Ministry of Defence has signed a major contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to supply 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons, also called SAT-SAAW, to the Indian Air Force. The deal is worth Rs 810.79 crore and also covers the equipment needed with the weapons.
The contract was signed in New Delhi on September 23, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The purchase has been made under the Buy (Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The latest agreement is part of India’s wider push to use more weapons and systems made within the country.
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How SAT-SAAW will Be Used By The IAF
SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb. It can be launched from fighter aircraft such as the Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI. The weapon is meant to hit important enemy airfield targets from a long stand-off distance. This allows the aircraft to attack such targets without needing to fly very close to them.
The weapon has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The earlier SAAW system was described by the Ministry of Defence as a 125 kg class smart weapon that could engage targets such as runways, taxi tracks, radars and bunkers at ranges of up to 100 km. It had also completed successful flight tests from the Hawk and Jaguar platforms.
The new SAT-SAAW programme will also include the use of more Indian-made parts. According to the Ministry of Defence, the system will have 60% indigenous content.
More Indian-Made Parts and Delivery Timeline
Along with the main weapon, some important sub-systems will also be indigenised. These include the Initial Measurement Unit, Long Impact Delay Fuse and Twin Store Carrier. The move is expected to increase the share of Indian technology and production in the weapon system. The Twin Store Carrier is also linked with India’s earlier effort to indigenise support equipment used with SAAW.
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Delivery of the 160 SAT-SAAW weapons is planned in phases during 2027-28 and 2028-29. Once delivered and inducted, the weapons are expected to add another precision strike option for the IAF and support its ability to carry out operations against key airfield targets.
