ASTRA
BVR AIR TO AIR MISSILE - DEFENCE & SECURITY
News: IAF to induct Astra missiles by
end-2023
What's
in the news?
●
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed two
contracts with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the indigenous Astra Beyond
Visual Range (BVR) Air to Air Missile and the first batch is expected to be
inducted by the end of 2023, according to defence sources.
Key
takeaways:
●
Astra is fully integrated on the SU-30MKI
and in August it was successfully test-fired from the Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA) Tejas off the coast of Goa during which the missile was released from the
aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 ft.
Astra
Missile:
●
The Astra Mk-1 is a beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM).
Developed
by:
●
It is designed and developed by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for deployment on fighter
jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas of the IAF and the Mig-29K of the Navy.
Objective:
●
To engage and eliminate high-speed, agile
aerial targets in air combat scenarios.
Range:
●
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.
Significance:
●
Reducing the dependency.
●
Large stand-off ranges.
●
It boasts advanced air combat capabilities
and can engage multiple high-performance targets simultaneously.