India’s defence engineers are working on a major upgrade to the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), turning it from a precision glide bomb into a lightweight air-launched cruise missile. The new version will feature its own small turbojet engine and infrared guidance system, allowing it to strike targets over 200 kilometres away in true “fire-and-forget” mode.

Instead of relying solely on inertial and satellite navigation, the upgraded SAAW will carry a built-in fuel tank to sustain long-range flight. The infrared seeker will make it more resistant to jamming and GPS denial, improving accuracy against both fixed and semi-mobile targets.

This transformation will give the Indian Air Force the ability to hit high-value targets while staying outside enemy air defence range. The weapon will retain the impressive precision of the original SAAW, capable of hitting within roughly three metres of its aim point.

Currently, the SAAW is deployed on Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and BAE Hawk aircraft, with integration planned for Rafale and Tejas Mk1A fighters. While no official testing schedule has been announced, preparations for platform compatibility suggest the programme is moving toward trials.