For the naval surface-to-air variant of the missile, see VL-SRSAM.

Astra (Sanskrit: "Weapon") is an Indian family of all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Multiple variants of this missile has been developed with engagement range varying from 500 m (0.31 mi) to 340 km (210 mi).[15] Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet of the Air Force and is planned to be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future. The variant entered limited series production of in 2017.[9][16][17]

Description

Astra Mark-1

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 in 2017 and 2018 validated an indigenous seeker replacing the earlier seeker. It is an improved active Ku, X band monopulse radio-frequency (RF) seeker developed by Research Center Imarat.[20][21][22][23]

Astra Mk-1 is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures to allow operation even during enemy attempts to jam the seeker using electronic countermeasures. It carries a 15 kg (33 lb) high explosive pre-fragmented warhead activated by a proximity fuse.[11] It uses a smokeless solid fuelled motor that can propel the missile to a speed of Mach 4.5 and allows operation from a maximum altitude of 20 km (66,000 ft).[12][11] Its maximum range is 20 km (12 mi) in tail chase mode and 110 km (68 mi) in head on chase mode.[24] The maximum range is achieved when the missile launched from an altitude of 15 km (49,000 ft). When it is fired from an altitude of 8 km (26,000 ft), the range drops to 44 km (27 mi) and when it is launched from sea level, the range drops further to 21 km (13 mi).[25] It can be launched in both autonomous and buddy mode operation and can lock on to its target before or after it is launched.[26]

Astra Mark-2

The Astra Mk-2 has a maximum range of 130–160 km (81–99 mi) depending on the firing altitude.[27][28] The extended range share the airplane and most of the adodynamic features with the Mark-1 variant. Upgrades includes an in-house developed dual-pulse rocket motor, laser proximity fuze and an indigenous AESA radar seeker among others.[29][30][31]

Gandiva

The Gandiva missile, previously Astra Mark-3, incorporate an air-breathing propulsion system designated as Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) setting it apart from the predecessors. By dimensions, the missile has a length of 3,838 mm (12.592 ft) and a diameter of 178–200 mm (7.0–7.9 in). This throttlable propulsion system significantly improves the range of the missile at 340 km (210 mi) at 20 km (66,000 ft) altitude and a range of 190 km (120 mi) at 8 km (26,000 ft) altitude. As per reports, the missile’s launch speed ranges from Mach 0.8 to 2.2 while the target hit speed ranges from Mach 2.0 to 3.6. It can engage highly maneuverable fighter aircraft with high angle of attack of up to 20 degrees. With its "±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability" the missile allows the pilots to engage targets at both higher or lower altitudes with respect to the firing aircraft. The missile utilises a two-way data link for mid-course guidance from the launch aircract or friendly AEW&C aircraft and also employs electronic counter-countermeasures.[13][32]

VL-SRSAM

This section is an excerpt from VL-SRSAM § Design.[]
VL-SRSAM is based on Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missile with four short-span long-chord cruciform wings that provide aerodynamic stability. It also includes additional jet vane driven thrust vector control to enable quick reaction time on vertical launch and smokeless exhaust.[33] VL-SRSAM conceived for area and point-defence role to save naval platforms. Each Vertical Launch System (VLS) can hold forty missiles in a twin quad-pack canister configuration carrying eight missiles each for hot launch that can be installed in an arrangement of multiple launch systems based on availability of space on the ship. The missile is for neutralizing various aerial threats at medium and close ranges, including fighter aircraft and sea skimming anti-ship missiles.[34] With its 360° interception capability, as an integrated missile and weapon control system (WCS), it can identify and neutralize threats coming from all directions. Even though a short-range air defense missile was the original goal, the VL-SRSAM is a medium-range air defense system. Its attack range of 40 km has been increased to 80 km. The missile is said to be fitted in destroyers, frigates, corvettes and aircraft carriers.[35][36][37]

Development

Astra Mk-1 fired from Su-30MKI

Preliminary work on Astra Mk-1 had begun by 1990 with the completion of a pre-feasibility study.[38] It was revealed to the public for the first time at Aero India 1998.[39] It was described as an elongated Matra Super 530D with a smaller diameter in front of the wings.[40] The project to develop the missile was officially sanctioned in 2004 with a budget of ₹955 crore (equivalent to ₹34 billion or US$390 million in 2023).[41] The project was to be led by Defence Research and Development Laboratory with assistance from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited.[42] 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.[43]

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.[44] By 2013, the missile had been redesigned again in response to multiple failures caused by adverse interactions between flight control surfaces.[45] The control, guidance, and propulsion systems were also reconfigured.[46] 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.[47][45] The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the National Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.[48]

Variants

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propulsion test on February 8, 2019
Maiden launch of VL-SRSAM on February 22, 2021

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.[55][56] In May 2014, it was fired for the first time in air.[57] On 18 March 2015, it successfully performed manoeuvre of upto 30g while engaging the target.[58] The missile was fired in public during Iron Fist 2016 exercise from Sukhoi Su-30MKI.[59] During a series of seven tests in September 2017, Astra Mk-1 was tested twice with an indigenous seeker.[60] During user trials in 2019, it hit a target at a distance of 90 km (56 mi).[61]

HAL Tejas LSP7 during a maiden firing of Astra Mk1 missile

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.[31]

Astra Mk-1 was successfully fired from HAL Tejas aircraft on 23 August 2023.[62]

Astra Mark-2

Astra Mk-2 dropped from Su-30MKI using Unified Common Launcher

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.[63]

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.[27][64][65]

Reports in September 2024 suggested that a series of developmental and user trials of the Astra Mk 2, with a range of 140-160 km, will be conducted in 2025 which will be completed by 2026 and followed by induction in the same year. Full scale production is expected by 2027. There has been a few design modifications which led to delays.[28]

Astra Mark-3

See also: Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet

The missile's under development propulsion system was first tested on 30 May 2018 and further test was carried out on 8 February 2019.[66][67]

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.[68]

By March 2025, the missile completed two in-flight tests FT-01 and FT-02 validating separation mechanisms after the previous ground tests for booster and nozzleless boosters. The missile will now undergo firing trials from Sukhoi Su-30MKI and HAL Tejas.[13][32]

Production

Astra completed final development trials in September 2017 and was cleared for production by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The missile will be manufactured at Bhanur, Telangana for an initial order of 50 missiles. Additional order of 248 missiles were placed for Indian Air Force (200) and Indian Navy (48) for use on various platforms like Sukhoi Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, MiG-29 / MiG-29K.[24][9][14][69]

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.[70] DRDO already started the process of transferring technology of the missile and associated systems to BDL. Each missile will cost ₹7–8 crore.[71] 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.[72]

On 14 January 2024, Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt flagged off the first production batch of Astra for the Indian Air Force from Bharat Dynamics Limited's Kanchanbagh Unit in Hyderabad.[73][74] On 4 August 2024, the missile was cleared full-rate production by the then Deputy COAS Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on his visit to Hyderabad unit of BDL.[75][76]

Exports

It was published in August 2023 that Brazil was exploring possibility of equipping its Gripen fighters with Astra Mk-1 missiles as a cost-effective option.[77] According to a report published in The Print on September 14, 2024, Armenia has inquired about the possibility of purchasing Astra Mk-1. Discussions are in early stages.[78]

Operators

 India

See also

References

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Technical:

Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_missile
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