Takbir (bomb)
| Takbir | |
|---|---|
| Type | Precision-guided munition / Glide bomb |
| Place of origin |  Pakistan |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Pakistan Air Force |
| Wars | Operation Swift Retort |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS) |
| Manufacturer | GIDS / Pakistan Aeronautical Complex |
| Produced | 2014–present |
| Variants | IREK (Increased Range Extension Kit) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,000 lb (454 kg) (When paired with PK-83) |
Takbir (also known under its development program name IREK or Increased Range Extension Kit) is an indigenous Pakistani stand-off precision-guided munition (PGM) conversion wing kit designed by Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS).[1] It transforms standard unguided 1,000-pound (454 kg) PK-83 and Mark 83 general-purpose bombs into long-range, satellite-guided smart glide bombs.
Development and Design
The Takbir was unveiled to the public by GIDS at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi in 2014.[2] The system consists of an add-on flight control kit fitted with deployable fold-out wings, stabilization tail fins, and an integrated guidance computer module.
Upon release from a combat aircraft, the bomb's wings deploy to generate aerodynamic lift, shifting the weapon from a ballistic drop trajectory into a controlled glide path. The system drastically extends the operational strike range of conventional munitions, allowing pilot crews to launch weapons outside the defensive envelope of enemy surface-to-air missile (SAM) networks.
Guidance and Accuracy
The system relies on a hybrid flight computer utilizing:
- An internal Inertial Navigation System (INS) to track mid-flight trajectory.
- A multi-channel Satellite Guidance System (compatible with GPS and alternative satellite networks) to provide terminal flight adjustments.
This dual-guidance infrastructure grants the Takbir fire-and-forget capabilities under all weather conditions, achieving a high hit accuracy with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of under 10 meters.[3]
Operational History
The Takbir kit entered full operational service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to modernize its tactical stand-off arsenal. Variants of the Range Extension Kit (REK) family were deployed by PAF JF-17 Thunder squadrons during retaliatory cross-border strikes against target coordination networks during Operation Swift Retort in February 2019.[4]
See also
- Azb REK
- Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM-ER)
- H-4 SOW
References
- ↑ "GIDS Precision Guided Munition Systems". gids.com.pk. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "Pakistan unveils Takbir smart bomb at IDEAS". Dawn. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Khan, A. (2019). "Indigenous Standoff Capabilities of the PAF". Janes Defence Weekly. 56 (14).
- ↑ "Analysis of air engagements over Kashmir". The Express Tribune. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2026-08-02.