HAL tests Anti-airfield Weapon from Hawk Aircraft

 India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) today test-fired a Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from the Hawk-i aircraft.

The SAAW test firing was conducted off the coast of Odhisha. The indigenous stand-off weapon was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization. This is the first such weapon fired from an Indian Hawk-MK132, a HAL release said.

The company-owned Hawk-1 platform is being extensively used for certification of systems andweapons deployed indigenously by DRDO, said R Madhavan, chief of HAL.

The SAAW is an aircraft launched, precision strike weapon of 125 kg category used to attack and destroy enemy airfield assets such as  radars, bunkers, taxi tracks and runways within a 100 km range. SAAW has been earlier tested from a Jaguar aircraft.

The aircraft flown by HAL test pilots executed the weapons release and all mission objectives were met. The telemetry and tracking systems captured all the mission events confirming to the success of the trials.

The Hawk-I is HAL’s internally funded program offering the Indian Armed Fores an upgrade and combat capability of Hawk, transforming it into an advanced jet trainer providing training on sensors and weapons in peacetime into a potent combat platform during confict. HAL is in discussions with Indian Armed Forces for integration of various weapons on the Hawk platform.