Astra (missile)
Astra | |
---|---|
Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
Place of origin | India |
Service history | |
In service | 2019 | –present
Used by | |
Production history | |
Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation (Defence Research and Development Laboratory) |
Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
Unit cost | ₹7−8 crore (US$−960,000) |
Produced | 2017 — Present |
Variants |
|
Specifications | |
Mass | 154 kg (340 lb) |
Length | 3.84 m (12.6 ft) |
Diameter | 178 mm (7.0 in) |
Warhead | |
Warhead weight | 15 kg (33 lb) |
Detonation mechanism |
|
Engine |
|
Propellant | Solid fuel |
Operational range | |
Flight ceiling | 20 km (66,000 ft) |
Maximum speed | datalink. Terminal: Active radar homing |
Launch platform |
|
References | [9][10][11][12][13][14] |
Astra (
Description
Astra Mk-1 is 3.6 m (12 ft) long with a diameter of 178 mm (7.0 in) and weighs 154 kg (340 lb). It uses mid-course inertial guidance driven by fibre-optic gyroscope with terminal guidance through active radar homing.[18] It is capable of receiving course corrections through a secure data link. The missile's active radar seeker, with a homing range of 25 km (16 mi), was designed by Russia's Concern Morinformsystem-Agat but manufactured within India.[11] The seeker can lock-on to a target with a radar cross section of 5 square metres from a distance of 15 km and enables off-boresight launches up to an angle of 45°.[19] Some tests have been conducted in 2017 and 2018 using an indigenous seeker developed by Research Centre Imarat.[20][21][22][23]
Astra Mk-1 is equipped with
Development
Preliminary work on Astra Mk-1 had begun by 1990 with the completion of a pre-feasibility study.[27] It was revealed to the public for the first time at Aero India 1998.[28] It was described as an elongated Matra Super 530D with a smaller diameter in front of the wings.[29] The project to develop the missile was officially sanctioned in 2004 with a budget of ₹955 crore (equivalent to ₹34 billion or US$410 million in 2023).[30] The project was to be led by Defence Research and Development Laboratory with assistance from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited.[31] The initial version of Astra Mk-1 reportedly weighed 300 kg (660 lb) with a range of 25–40 km (16–25 mi) and was planned to be integrated with HAL Tejas. It was tested for the first time in May 2003.[32]
The missile was redesigned around 2006 due to control issues and performance deficiencies at high altitude. The initial design of four cruciform short-span long-chord wings were replaced by cropped delta wings placed near the nose. The redesigned missile had an improved propulsion system and was tested for the first time in 2008.[33] By 2013, the missile had been redesigned again in response to multiple failures caused by adverse interactions between flight control surfaces.[34] The control, guidance, and propulsion systems were also reconfigured.[35] After the second redesign, the missile was lighter than the initial version by around 130 kg (290 lb). It was tested from the ground thrice in December 2012 and captive trials from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI were held in April 2013.[36][34]
Variants
Air-to-air missile versions
After the deployment of Astra Mk-1, several offshoot versions are being planned, including an imaging Infra-red homing missile tentatively classified as Astra-IR, a longer-range Astra Mk-2 version and a further development called Astra Mk-3.[37]
India's DRDO is undertaking work on a Mk-2 version of the Astra missile and has planned to enhance its range using an in-house developed
A future Mk-3 variant based on a Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) engine is being jointly developed by India and Russia.[43] The missile was first tested on 30 May 2018 and further test was carried out on 8 February 2019.[44][45] The aim of the program to develop an indigenous missile rivalling the AIM-260 JATM and MBDA Meteor.
Surface-to-air missile versions
To fulfill the need of
VL-SRSAM supersedes the cancelled
Indian Air Force may also sport VL-SRSAM in truck-based launchers to supplement its Akash surface-to-air missile as a quick reaction system, similar to the Norwegian/American NASAM 2.[49][50]
Trials
Astra Mark-1
Astra Mk-1 went through a series of ground tests from 2003 till 2012 in three different configurations to validate the airframe, propulsion system, control system, dual mode guidance and night firing capability. Carriage trials were carried out in 2009 and 2013 on Sukhoi Su-30MKI.[51][52] In May 2014, it was fired for the first time in air.[53] On 18 March 2015, it successfully performed manoeuvre of upto 30g while engaging the target.[54] The missile was fired in public during Iron Fist 2016 exercise from Sukhoi Su-30MKI.[55] During a series of seven tests in September 2017, Astra Mk-1 was tested twice with an indigenous seeker.[21] During user trials in 2019, it hit a target at a distance of 90 km (56 mi).[56]
Astra Mk-1 with an indigenous seeker (instead of a Russian variant supplied by AGAT) is expected to be tested for the first time in May 2022.[38]
Astra Mk-1 was successfully fired from HAL Tejas aircraft on 23 August 2023.[57]
Astra Mark-2
During an annual press conference on October 4, 2022, IAF released footage of an Astra Mk-2 launched from a Su-30MKI using Unified Common Launcher developed by DRDO with industry partners for air-to-air missiles.[58]
Reports released in April 2024 suggested that the missile will be tested in first half of 2024 with an initial target range of around 130 km.[59][60][61]
Astra Mark-3
As per Ministry of Defence's Year End Review, Astra Mk-3 with solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) propulsion was flight tested in 2023 which enabled the missile to intercept aerial threats over a far greater distance at supersonic speed. The missile was configured with nozzle-less booster, thrust modulation system and a sustainer engine to deliver specific impulse in ramjet mode.[62]
Production
Astra completed final development trials in September 2017 and was cleared for production by
On 31 May 2022, Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contract with BDL worth ₹2,971 crore (US$383 million) to produce 350+ units of Astra Mk-1 for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy under high priority Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category.[64] DRDO already started the process of transferring technology of the missile and associated systems to BDL. Each missile will cost ₹7–8 crore.[65] Astra Mk-1 along with other variants of this missile will progressively replace all Russian origin long range air to air missile in Indian fleet.[66]
On 14 January 2024, Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt flagged off the first batch of production Astra Missiles for the Indian Air Force from Bharat Dynamics Limited's Kanchanbagh Unit in Hyderabad.[67][68]
Exports
It was published in August 2023 that Brazil was exploring possibility of equipping its
Operators
- India
Gallery
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Astra tested from ground-based launcher during initial developmental trial.
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Astra fired from an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI
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Su-30MKI fires an Astra missile
See also
- AIM-120 AMRAAM – (United States)
- Derby – (Israel)
- MICA (missile) – (France)
- R-77 – (Russia)
- R-27EA – (Soviet Union)
- PL-12 – (China)
- R-Darter – (South Africa)
- Meteor – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
- PL-15 – (China)
References
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- ^ Jane's Information Group. Archived from the originalon 6 September 2017.
- The Hindu Business Line. The Hindu Group.
- ^ a b c d e Majumdar, Sayan (September–October 2015). "Astra – The Spear for Air Dominance" (PDF). Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review. No. 5. Society for Aerospace Studies. pp. 56–57.
- ^ ISSN 0971-751X.
- ^ a b Pandit, Rajat (29 September 2019). "15 years on, DRDO's supersonic missile ready for IAF fighters". The Times of India.
- ^ a b "DAC approves capital acquisition of various platforms & equipment worth Rs 38,900 crore". PIB India. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "What is Astra Missile ?". Business Standard India. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (31 August 2017). "Indian Air Force likely to start trials of Astra missile from today". The New Indian Express. Express Publications (Madurai).
- ^ "Astra Missile Test successful: More power to the IAF's fighter planes". The Financial Express. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
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- Jane's Information Group.
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- ^ a b "Forty first report of the Standing Committee on Defence (2017–2018)" (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. March 2018. p. 59.
- ^ "Indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra successfully test fired". Hindustan Times. HT Media. Press Trust of India. 26 September 2018.
- ^ Jane's Information Group. Archived from the originalon 17 May 2014.
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- ^ Jane's Information Group: 3.
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External links
Technical: