Operation Sindoor’s first anniversary is symbolically significant for India as it showed its adversaries that the IAF is now more lethal and accurate, with greater reach, without endangering its pilots or aircraft.

TARA is a milestone in indigenous defence production. It’s India’s first domestically manufactured modular range glide-bomb extension kit.

TARA, like other modular range-extension kits, converts unguided, or dumb, bombs into long-range precision-guided munitions (PGMs), with the pilot staying outside the targeting range of enemy air defence and, in some cases, warplanes.

How Dumb Bombs Become Smart

A dumb, or free-falling, bomb is a traditional and cheap alternative to a PGM, but relies only on gravity and the pilot’s accuracy. It follows a predictable, aerodynamic path before it hits the target, and the fuze detonates. 

For example, the American Mk (Mark) or BLU (Bomb Live Unit) series, the Russian FAB (Fugasnaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba) series and the Indian High Speed Low Drag (HSLD), 500 kg General Purpose Bomb and 1,000 kg Aerial Bomb. 

These bombs become accurate and more lethal with a GPS/internal navigation system (INS), steerable fins, reduced Circular Error Probable (CEP) — the radius of a circle centred on a target within which 50% of fired rounds are expected to land — vertical angel impact and variable fusing.

The US pioneered the development of smart bombs during the Vietnam War by developing the laser-guided Paveway series of weapons (BOLT-117 and early GBU (Guided Bomb Unit)-10/GBU-12). By the 1990s, the US had developed the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).  

During the Iran War in March, several 907-kg BLU-109 bunker buster warheads attached to the JDAM GBU-31 were dropped on Iran’s Badr Military Airport, Isfahan. 

The Russians, inspired by the JDAM, started using the UMPK kit to turn Soviet-era dumb bombs FAB-1500 and FAB-300 in Ukraine in 2023 to devastating effect. These bombs, delivered by Su-34 and Su-35S, contributed to the fall of Avdiivka city in February 2024 by flattening buildings and fortifications.

China has several modular smart weapon kits: HuoShi 1-130 (drone-launched), LeiShi-6, and FT-6. 

India’s Reliance On Israel, France

India has been relying on Israel and France for modular glide weapon kits.  

The Israeli SPICE (Israeli Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective)-1000 (range 100 km) and 2000 (range 60 km) kits can carry warheads of 450 kg and 900 kg, respectively. 

The IAF has also integrated the Israeli REST (Range Extension & Smart Tail) kit (range 120 km) with the SEPECAT Jaguar DARIN III, the most advanced and indigenously upgraded version of the deep-penetration strike jet. 

The French HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) can carry warheads of 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg with a 70-200 km range depending on weight. 

The INS/GPS version is called SBU (Smart Bomb Unit)-38, the INS/GPS/IIR (infrared homing) SBU-64 and the INS/GPS/SALH (semi-active laser homing) version SBU-54.

SPICE, REST, and HAMMER use electro-optical (EO) technology, which boosts precision and helps the bomb hit its target during the daytime or at night, in all weather conditions.

India used the SPICE-2000 during Operation Bandar (Balakot strikes) and HAMMER during Operation Sindoor to strike terrorist bases.

Indian Glide Bombs, Modular Laser-Guided Kit 

PGMs include both smart bombs, missiles, and rockets. 

A specialised glide bomb, also a PGM, is different from a modular range glide weapon kit. It’s an integrated weapon system with GPS/INS, advanced sensors, specialised warheads, and large wings for extended range. 

The two most dreaded glide bombs are in the US arsenal.  

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB, or the Mother of All Bombs), which has the 8,480-kg BLU-120/B as the primary payload, was used against the Islamic State-Khorasan Province in Afghanistan in April 2017.

The GBU-57 series of Massive Ordnance Penetrators, which use the 2,600-kg BLU-127 bomb body, were used in the bombing of the Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites last June and in the Iran War.  

India already has indigenous specialised glide bombs and a laser-guided bomb (LGB) kit.

The SAAW (Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon) is a domestically manufactured 125-kg autonomous, precision-guided glide bomb designed to destroy runways, hangars, taxi tracks and bunkers. The SAAW (range 90-100 km), used during Operation Sindoor, also has IIR and turbojet variants. 

The Long-Range Glide Bomb, or Gaurav (range 100 km), is another autonomous, precision-guided glide bomb that can destroy airfields, bunkers and reinforced buildings.

It’s not that India didn’t have a modular glide-bomb kit earlier. It uses laser tracking, not GPS/INS. 

Sudarshan is India’s first indigenous LGB kit that converts unguided bombs into PGMs. Equipped with a computer control group, canards and wings, it is attached to a 450-kg dumb bomb. 

The laser designator illuminates the target (moving or fixed). 

But Sudarshan has a range of only 9 km.

How TARA Changes The Game 

TARA scores over Sudarshan on several fronts. 

Firstly, TARA, using GPS/INS and EO technology, can operate during the day, night and in all weather. 

Secondly, GPS/INS and EO seekers make TARA much more accurate with a CEP of less than three metres.

A TARA-equipped bomb is also a drop-and-forget munition, with the pilot dropping it from tens of kilometres away and immediately flying away. The onboard seekers guide the dumb bomb to the target. Sudarshan can reveal the pilot’s position, especially if the target is moving and is being continuously painted with its laser designator.

Fourthly, TARA fuses Global Navigation Satellite System signals with the autonomous tracking of its INS internal sensors, eliminating the need for a line-of-sight laser designator for guidance. Consequently, the bomb can be dropped from a high altitude and a greater distance (150-180 km).

Fifthly, TARA can carry multiple payloads — 250 kg, 450 kg, and 500 kg. Sudarshan can carry only a 450-kg bomb. 

TARA’s Edge Over Glide Bombs

TARA also has several advantages over glide bombs. 

Though such modular glide weapon kits have a limited range and less accuracy, especially against moving targets, compared to PGMs, they have several advantages.

Firstly, a modular glide weapon kit is cost-effective. Such kits are cheaper and can be used with dumb bombs instead of buying PGMs, which are costly.

Secondly, they can be retrofitted, like TARA, to a variety of dumb bombs weighing from 250 kg to 1,000 kg.

Thirdly, in a long conflict, PGM stockpiles are depleted very fast with either side desperate to knock out key military infrastructure. 

In such scenarios, dumb bombs equipped with modular smart kits come to the rescue. 

(The writer is a columnist with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Views expressed are personal.)