BEL to supply Khagantak-243 stand-off glide munition to the IAF. A model showcased at Aero India 2025. (Janes/Rahul Udoshi)
India's Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has secured an order from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to supply an unspecified number of Khagantak-243 munitions, a 300 kg-class airborne stand-off precision-guided glide bomb, the company told Janes on 11 February.
Speaking at the Aero India 2025 show in Bangalore, a BEL official confirmed that the Khagantak-243 munition, which has been in development for more than a decade, is now complete and has recently secured a prototype and production contract. However, the value of the deal is undisclosed.
Preparations are under way for initial flight tests, set to begin in mid-2025, followed by series production. The Khagantak-243 is initially scheduled to be tested on the IAF's Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, with potential future tests on other platforms, including the MiG-29K.
The Khagantak-243 is a stand-off glide munition developed collaboratively by JSR Dynamics and BEL. JSR Dynamics provides the body and control systems, while BEL supplies all electronics and guidance subsystems.
The munition features a cylindrical body with swivel-type mid-body glide wings and five aft control surfaces, enabling a range of more than 140 km when launched from an altitude of 12,000 m. It is equipped with a Mk 81 general purpose blast-fragmentation warhead, containing 125 kg of explosive fill.
BEL signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with JSR Dynamics at Aero India 2019 for the development, production, and sales of weapons under the Indian government's ‘Make in India' initiative.
JSR Dynamics showcased the Khagantak-243 and Khagantak-306 at the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024.
The Khagantak-306 is an improved, extended-range version with distinct features such as modified control surfaces and enhanced guidance systems.
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