[9] The development started with the aim to replace the older generation imported general purpose bombs that impose huge drag loss on fighter aircraft used by the IAF.
The HSLD bomb is specially designed to productively use the higher speed of up to Mach 1.1 and wider flight envelope of newer generation NATO and Russian origin as well as Indian made aircraft.
[10] By feeding the target coordinates, the warhead can be used to effectively destroy runway, railway track, bridge, industrial facility, dock and bunker while able to work in the absence of GNSS input due to satellite jamming.
[11][12] The family of HSLD comes in two versions namely a General Purpose Bomb (GPB) and a Precision Guided High Speed Low Drag (PGHSLD) unit under three different weight class category.
[18] On 7 August 2024, IAF issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) was floated by the Ministry of Defence for the upgrade of 24 MiG-29s, to integrate HSLD Mk 2 bombs/missiles with a range of 180 km.
[19][20] Ministry of Defence (MoD) gave green light to start mass production of 500 kg general purpose bomb by Munitions India Limited at Ordnance Factory Khamaria.
In initial carriage trial, the bomb carried sensors, telemetry and data logger while during the separate CRT session, satellite guidance units were added which flew on Su-30MKI from Jodhpur Air force Station.
The trials were conducted with the help of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Indian Air Force Test Pilot School and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).