Astra Mk1: Govt places order for 1st indigenous BVR missile
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for the supply of the Astra Mark-1 for deployment on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Astra Mk-1 Missile
- A beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM).
- The Astra project was officially launched in the early 2000s with defined parameters and proposed future variants.
- The missile has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
- It will be deployed 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.
| Variant | Range |
|---|---|
| Astra Mk-1 | Around 110 km, |
| Astra Mk-1(S) | Smaller Version Under Development |
| Astra Mk-2 | Range over 150 km (under development ) |
| Astra Mk-3 | longer range is being envisaged. |
Other Feature
- It can neutralize adversary airborne assets without exposing adversary air defence measures.
- Stand-off range means the missile is launched at a distance sufficient to allow the attacking side to evade defensive fire from the target.
- Astra is technologically and economically superior to many such imported missile
- 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.
Exam Track
Prelims Take Away
- Astra Missile and Variants
- DRDO
- Tejas
- Sukhoi-30 MKI
- Mig-29K
- Air To Air Missiles