An IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI launches India's new BVRAAM, Astra missile

The DRDO and DRDL Astra project has been in the works since 2004, and displays the massive strides being made in India's indigenous weapons development initiatives. The success of the tests means the Indian Air Force will no longer need to look abroad for expensive BVR missile technology. It has a range capacity of just over 100 kilometres and also makes use of a smokeless propellant. The Astra is able to withstand forces greater than 30g, making it an exceptionally reliable weapon in aircraft combat

An IAF Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jet has test launched India’s first indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) named Astra, in Odisha, bringing to fruition a project that began in March 2004 with a budget of Rs 995 crores. The success of the tests also means the Indian Air Force (IAF) will no longer need to look abroad for expensive BVR missile technology. The homemade Astra will, in effect, replace the Russian R-77 and French Matra Super-530D. 

With the IAF ranking among the top five largest globally, domestic demand for the Astra itself will be in the thousands, catering to India’s fleet of between 600 and 700 fighter aircraft. The Astra project was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO's) Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in conjunction with more than 50 micro, small and medium enterprises that will now have to prepare to meet custom requirements and orders, from both the IAF and the export market. The Astra though has been designed for deployment from the Russian Vympel launcher equipped across India’s entire fighter aircraft fleet (that includes the Su-30MKI, MiG -29, Mirage 2000 and the HAL Tejas models). 

Key Features of Astra Mark I

The Astra integrates a cutting-edge weapons system that compares with the very best in the world. It has a range capacity of just over 100 km and also makes use of a smokeless propellant. This provides the fighter jet with an enormous tactical advantage, with enemy aircraft prevented from determining the origin of the missile’s flight path. The Astra is also designated as an 'Áll Aspect, All Weather’ weapon. In simple terms, this means its tremendous versatility allows it to be deployed regardless of the target’s position relative to the missile. 

The Astra also has state-of-the-art ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures) features that enable it to overcome defensive measures taken by adversarial aircraft. The weapon is also equipped with both, a ‘Lock on Before Launch’ feature and a ‘Lock on After Launch’ feature. In the latter case, the missile has the capacity to identify and lock on to its target independently once it has reached within 15km of it. This may sometimes allow the fighter jet to effectively launch the missile, and waste no time in ‘scooting’ to safety. 

One of the most striking features of the Astra is its manoeuvrability. Modern iterations of aircraft are capable of performing evasive manoeuvres at immense speeds. The only limiting factor is, in fact, the g-forces experienced by their pilots. As such, missiles, with all their micro subsystems and components, need to be able to withstand even greater forces if they are to be successful in reaching their target. The Astra is able to withstand forces greater than 30g, making it an exceptionally reliable weapon in aircraft combat. 

The successful development and integration of the Astra into the IAF will pave the way for more indigenous weapon development programmes. The DRDO, DRDL and their partners do not appear to be resting on their laurels, with development of a second iteration, the Astra Mark II having already commenced. The second generation of the Astra is expected to have an improved range.