India has joined a handful of countries which has developed a beyond visual range air-to-air
missile (BVRAAM).
BVRAAM missiles enable fighter pilots to engage enemy targets which are beyond their visual
range.
Named ‘Astra', the missile was tested from Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole
air superiority fighter on September 16.
In this video Defense Updates reports on successful test fire of Astra BVRAAM.
Let’s get started.
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According to the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD), the missile successfully destroyed
its test target.
The MoD said in a press statement, “The live aerial target was engaged accurately
demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile,”
The MoD added, “The mission profile was executed in a textbook
manner.
Various radars, electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) and sensors tracked the missile and
confirmed its engagement with target.”
The Astra missile is developed indigenously by DRDO or Defence Research and Development
Organization.
It will be produced by Public Sector Undertaking Corporation - Bharat Dynamics.
Astra is 3.57 meter long and weights 340 lbs or 154 kg.
It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing.
Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing
for engagement of both short-range targets at a distance of 20 km (12 mi) and long-range
targets up to a distance of 110 km (68 mi) in head-on chase mode and 20 km (12 mi) in
tail chase mode.
Astra is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures to allow operation even during enemy attempts
to jam the seeker using electronic countermeasures.
Astra also features an option to choose between “Lock on Before Launch – LOBL” and “Lock
on After Launch – LOAL”.
The LOAL option allows the fighter aircraft to shoot and dart away immediately after launching
the missile towards the target and this greatly enhances the survivability of the fighter.
It carries a 15 kg (33 lb) high explosive pre-fragmented warhead activated by a proximity fuse.
According to the Indian MoD, 27 trails having been carried out so far which include both
ground and flight test.
The first aerial test was done on In May 2014.
The Astra BVRAAM is expected to be officially inducted by the end of 2019.
Astra will be initially integrated to Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the backbone of Indian Air Force and it has around 200 of these.
IAF has plans to acquire more in the coming days.
It is a twin-seater, twin-engine fighterI, developed by Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi
and license-built in India by HAL.
It is interesting to note is that the MKI version of Su-30 includes Israeli and French
avionics.
For example, the aircraft is fitted with a French-made heads-up display system and Israeli’s
made electronic warfare system and an advanced targeting pod.
Indian military establishment has plans to integrated the missile to other aircraft too
like indegenious Tejas and Dassault Mirage 2000.
India has been importing Russian, French and Israeli BVRAAMs to arm the IAF fighters.
Astra will enable India to be self-reliant in coming days when it comes to air to air
missiles and this is why this is a major achievement.
Importantly since Astra will be much cheaper than imported once, it could be acquired in
larger numbers.
DRDO plans to develop a Mk 2 variant of Astra with a larger engagement envelope
The Defence Research and Development Organization is also already working to increase Astra’s
strike range from the existing 110 km to over 160 km.
DRDO chief Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, talking to Times of India stated, “Astra is one of
the best BVRAAMs in the world today.
We have the capability to develop it for longer ranges”
The skirmish between India and Pakistan earlier this year have shown that there is always
a possibility of air engagement.
This is where a long-range missile like Astra will be very useful.
Since the missile is developed indigenously there is the scope of incremental upgrades
which could make it a decisive weapon going forward.