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ASTRA air-to-air missile

  • Published
    24th Aug, 2023
Context

Recently, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Limited Series Production-7 (LSP-7) successfully test fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.

Background
  • The Astra project was officially launched in the early 2000s with defined parameters and proposed future variants.
  • Around 2017, the development phase of the Mk-1 version was complete.
  • Several successful tests have been conducted since 2017 from Sukhoi-30 MKIs.

About ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR):

  • The Astra Mk-1 is a Air-to-Air Missile (AAM).
  • BVM missiles are capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometers.
  • AAMs are fired from an airborne asset to destroy an airborne target.


  • Range:
    • The range for Astra Mk-1 is around 110 km.
    • The Mk-2 with a range over 150 km is under development and Mk-3 version with a longer range is being envisaged.
    • One more version of Astra, with a range smaller than Mk-1 is also under development.
  • Designed and Developed by:
    • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Significance:
  • Can be integrated with other Fighter Aircraft: The missile is fully integrated on the Sukhoi 30 MKI I and will be integrated with other fighter aircraft in a phased manner, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
    • It will integrate the missile on the MiG-29K fighter aircraft which are deployed on the Navy’s aircraft carriers, thus adding to the lethality of India’s Aircraft carriers.
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