| High Speed Low Drag Bomb | |
|---|---|
| Type | Precision-guidedgeneral-purpose bomb |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Indian Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Armament Research and Development Establishment |
| Designed | 2013–present |
| Manufacturer | Munitions India Limited |
| No. built | 800+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Warhead | |
| Warhead weight |
|
Detonation mechanism | Time fuze with electric/mechanical delay |
Operational range | PGHSLD:
TARA:
|
| Flight altitude | 10 km to 150 m |
Guidance system | Mid-course:FOG-INS + multi-GNSS (PGHSLD & TARA) Terminal: |
| Accuracy | PGHSLD: |
Launch platform | |
| References | HSLD,[1] PGHSLD[2] |
TheHigh Speed Low Drag (HSLD) is a family of short-rangeair-droppedgeneral-purpose bomb developed by theDefence Research and Development Organisation for theIndian Air Force. It can be used against the destruction of strategic high value enemy infrastructure from stand-off distances. The HSLD is comparable to theMark 80 series bombs used by theUnited States Air Force and its allies.
Multiple guidance kits, like PGHSLD and TARA REK, are also under development to convert these unguided bombs intoprecision-guided munitions. The guidance kit will usesemi-active laser orelectro-optical/imaging infrared seekers to assist in precision strikes.
TheArmament Research and Development Establishment[3] is India's primary agency that started developing HSLD with the help from otherDRDO laboratories to upgrade the conventional free fallunguided ordnance used by theIAF fighter pilots whileOrdnance Factory Board is the lead production agency.[4] The development started with the aim to replace the older generation imported general purpose bombs that impose hugedrag loss onfighter aircraft used by the IAF. The HSLD bomb is specially designed to productively use the higher speed of up toMach 1.1 and wider flight envelope of newer generationNATO and Russian origin as well as Indian made aircraft.[2]
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory developed theconventional type warhead for the HSLD and GP bombs that featuresblast,fragmentation andshaped charge forbunker buster role.[5] By feeding the target coordinates, the warhead can be used to effectively destroyrunway,railway track,bridge, industrial facility,dock andbunker while able to work in the absence ofGNSS input due to satellite jamming.[2][6]
HSLD can be launched from variety of aircraft that are under IAF inventory likeDassault Mirage 2000,SEPECAT Jaguar,Sukhoi Su-30MKI[7][8] andHAL Tejas.[2]
Each HSLD bomb variant has two types of tail unit — retarder tail unit (RTU) (for low-level bombing missions) and ballistic tail unit (BTU) (forstrategichigh level bombing).[2] The 250 kg and 450 kg HSLD bomb uses Dentex as their primary explosive.[5][1]
On 29 July 2023,Ordnance Factory Muradnagar ofYantra India flagged off the first batch of 780 bomb casings of HSLD-450.[9][10][11]
The Precision Guidance Kit for 450 kg HSLD Bomb, designated PGHSLD-500, has a mass of 520 ± 10 kg (1,146 ± 22 lb) and a length of 3.1 metre. The 450 kg HSLD has ahigh-explosivefragmented warhead with AVU-ETM fuse. The PGK consists of two sub-units — Nose Extension Unit (NEXU) and Smart Tail Unit (STU). The NEXU includes fixed canards asflight control surfaces,semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, anti-jammingGPS antenna, two-axis gimballed laser with a range of 4 km and 20°field of view. The STU includes actuation system with four individually controlled fins,fibre-optic gyro-basedINS module, GPS antenna, electrically initiated thermal battery, a flight control unit (FCU) and a telemetry module. When paired with the guidance kit, the bomb can achieve an accuracy of 30 mCEP withINS/GPS mid-course guidance and that of 3 m CEP with SAL seeker as terminal guidance. The bomb is compatible withSu-30MKI andHAL Tejas.[12][2][13]
The 500 kg GP Bomb carries 10,300 preformed fragmented steel shells of 15 mm diameter. Each shell can target an area of up to 50 m from place ofdetonation with fragment density of >1 hit/sq m. The bomb is compatible with Russian andSEPECAT Jaguar fighter aircraft.[14][15] The bomb has both impact and impact delay modes of explosion and utilisesTorpex-4B mixed withRDX that act asexplosive booster.[5][1]
TheMinistry of Defence gave the green light to start mass production of 500 kg GP Bomb byMunitions India Limited atOrdnance Factory Khamaria. On 10 January 2022, under the guidance of a team fromHEMRL andARDE, the first two 500-kg GP bomb were carefully filled with primary and secondary warhead fillings in the F-6 section of the factory.[14] The first batch of 48 such bombs was delivered to the Indian Air Force on 3 April 2022.[16][17]
The HSLD Mk 2 is reportedly an improved variant of the earlier versions with a range of 180 km (110 mi) when launched from an altitude of 16,000 ft (4.9 km).[18]
However, multiple reports also refer to HSLD Mk 2 as the Indian designation for the Israeli-originRampage missile.[19][20]
On 7 August 2024,IAF issued arequest for proposal was floated by theMinistry of Defence for the upgrade of 24 MiG-29s, to integrate HSLD Mk 2 bombs. These upgrade will include addition of additional hardware (bomb racks on externalhardpoints) as well as necessary software on to the aircraft. The project shall be overseen by11 Base Repair Depot of the IAF. Subsequently, the entire fleet will be equipped with this in phases. HSLD Mk 2 is integrated and deployed onSu-30MKI and SEPECAT Jaguar fleet. The IAF has soughtMoD for manufacturing HSLD Mk 2 in India.[21][22]
In May 2025, it was reported that IAF plans to modify 112 Jaguar aircraft in order to equip them with HSLD Mk 2 bombs. This will follow the modifications of one fighter and trainer each of the DARIN II and III upgrades byHindustan Aeronautics Limited andAircraft and Systems Testing Establishment.[18]
The Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) Range Extension Kit (REK) is a guidance kit that converts the HSLD, and GP series of unguided bombs intoprecision-guided munition. The TARA is under development with DRDO as of 2024. The REK kit uses a wing and tail unit to glide for a longer distance before hitting its target. The TARA REK will incorporateelectro-optical andimaging infrared guidance for enhanced precision. The expected range of the bomb is 150-180 km when launched at 5 km altitude and a speed ofMach 0.8. TheCEP of the kit should be <5 m This plan is included in Innovation for Defence excellence Programme (iDEX) of theMinistry of Defence. There will be 3 variants of REK kit — 250 kg (HSLD-250), 450 kg (HSLD-450) and 500 kg (500 kg GP Bomb).[23][24][25]
In 2023, the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy carried out Ground Fitment Trials (GFT) by integrating TARA withJaguar Darin II andMiG-29K, respectively.[26] In March 2024, the first REK-equipped HSLD 250 was showcased in March 2024.[27] TheHAL Tejas can be equipped with the guided bombs.[28]
Two successful developmental trials were conducted in 2013 to prove the capability of the munition with all development related works to be completed by 2014.[29]
During the same time, the Precision Guidance Kit for 450 Kg HSLD Bomb, designated PGHSLD-500, underwent carriage as well as carriage and release trials (CRTs) in thePokhran Test Range. Two weapons were employed — one equipped with sensors, telemetry, and a data logger for carriage trials, and the other fitted with GPS and telemetry for Captive Release Trials (CRT). Two captive sorties with the weapon were conducted for carriage trials. The PGHSLD-500, mounted on station 05/06, was cleared for the full flight envelope. The weapon was released from an altitude of 5 km (16,000 ft) and at anairspeed of 900 km/h (Mach 0.73). The trials were completed successfully. The trials were carried out by aSu-30MKI aircraft fromNo. 31 Squadron, 32 Wing,Jodhpur Air Force Station (AFS).[30][2][31]
In May–June 2017, theARDE conducted successful trials of the 500 kg GP Bomb from Jodhpur AFS. The tests covered ground adaptation, carriage and handling, limited separation, and release from a Su-30MKI aircraft. Carriage trials reached the upper limit ofMach 0.85 Mach at 150 m altitude, with 6.5 g and full-roll manoeuvres. The bomb maintained structural integrity and was safely released from station 7. Upon impact, the live bomb functioned effectively, validating the complete explosive train and proving operational readiness. The trials were conducted with the help ofAircraft and Systems Testing Establishment,Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Office of the Regional Director Aeronautical Quality Assurance among others.[32][33][31]
As of April 2025, TARA is undergoing trials with SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force.[7][8]
Mark 80 series - American equivalent
