In news

DRDO successfully conducted captive and release trial of indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from Hawk-i aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) off the Odisha coast

Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

• The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield weapon currently developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is designed to be capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kilometres (62 mi).
• The SAAW project was approved by the Government of India in 2013.
• The first successful test of the weapon was conducted in May 2016. Another successful test was conducted in November of the following year.
• This was followed by a series of three successful tests in December 2017.
• Between 16 and 18 August 2018, three successful tests were conducted, which brought the total number of tests to eight.
• In September 2020, the SAAW was approved for procurement by the Indian government for the Navy and the Air Force.

Hawk aircraft

It is a tandem seat aircraft developed by HAL. The aircraft has an integrated attack system and radio and inertial navigation system. It is spin resistant.

Source: PIB