[9] The SAAW has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), and other DRDO laboratories in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF).
[10][11] It is a lightweight high precision guided bomb designed to destroy ground targets, such as runways, bunkers, aircraft hangars and other reinforced structures.
[12][13][14] Weighing 125 kg (276 lb)[15] it has deep penetration capabilities,[12][16] carries a high explosive warhead[16] and has a standoff range of 100 kilometres (62 mi), which enables users to strike targets, such as enemy airfields, at a safe distance without putting pilots and aircraft in jeopardy.
[16] Trials for the wing functioning of the weapon were successfully conducted in late 2015 at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility located at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Ramgarh, Haryana.
[11][23] The bomb, upon release from the aircraft, was guided by an on-board precision navigation system and reached the targets at a range of more than 70 kilometers with high accuracy.
The press statement further said that all the mission objectives were achieved, adding that the tests were witnessed by senior officials from the DRDO, HAL and the IAF.
[29][30] On 15 December 2021, Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh handed over SAAW to IAF Chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari clearing way towards mass production.
[31] DRDO chairman Dr G. Satheesh Reddy has disclosed that the next version of SAAW will be equipped with an IIR seeker and will begin developmental trials in 2022.