Published: 7th Jun, 2022
Context
The Ministry of Defence has recently signed a contract with the Hyderabad-based public-sector Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for supply of the Astra Mark-1.
About
Astra Mark-1:
- The Astra Mk-1 is a beyond visual range (BVR),air-to-air missile (AAM).
- The missile has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It will used for deployment on fighter jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas of the IAF and the Mig-29K of the Navy.
- 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.
- The missile can travel at speeds more than four times that of sound and can reach a maximum altitude of 20 km, making it extremely flexible for air combat.
About Astra project:
- The Astra project was officially launched in the early 2000s with defined parameters and proposed future variants.
- Around 2017, the development phase of Mk-1 version was complete.
- While 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.
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