As reported by NDTV on August 5, 2024, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has authorized the production of 200 Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missiles. This decision was made during a recent visit by IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to Hyderabad. The clearance was granted to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), marking a step forward in replacing all Russian-origin long-range air-to-air missiles of the IAF with indigenous solutions.
The Astra missile is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, in service since 2019, and used by both the IAF and Indian Navy. The missile family includes the operational Astra Mk-1, as well as the Astra Mk-2, Mk-3, and Astra-IR, which are in various phases of trials and design. The Astra Mk-1, measuring 3.84 meters in length, 178 millimeters in diameter, and weighing 154 kilograms, carries a high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead of 15 kilograms and is equipped with a radio proximity fuze. It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket engine, achieving speeds up to Mach 4.5 and operating at altitudes up to 20 kilometers.
The Astra Mk-1’s guidance system includes a fiber-optic gyro-based inertial navigation system for mid-course guidance and an active radar homing system for terminal guidance. It has an operational range of 110 kilometers in head-on chase mode and 20 kilometers in tail chase mode, with the range varying depending on the launch altitude. The missile is designed to be launched from various aircraft platforms, including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29K, and HAL Tejas Mk.1/1A, with maximum range achieved from higher altitudes.
The missile is designed to be launched from various aircraft platforms, including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29K, and HAL Tejas Mk.1/1A, with maximum range achieved from higher altitudes.