DRDO Astra BVRAAM is an active radar homing beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. This is the first air-to-air missile developed by India---an advanced missile that enables fighter pilots to lock-on and shoot down enemy aircraft from a distance of more than 80 km away. As of May 2011, the missile is undergoing developmental trials and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces by 2014.The maximum range of Astra is to be 80 km in head-on chase and 20 km in tail chase. The missile could be launched from different altitudes - it can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level . It will have an active homing range of 25 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead and is fitted with a proximity fuze. A radar fuse already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse. The Mark 2 version of Astra will have a maximum range of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing this advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to arm the Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000H, MiG-29, Sea Harrier, Su-30MKI, MiG-21 Bison and HAL Tejas fighter aircraft. Astra resembles an elongated Matra Super 530. It uses an in-house developed solid fuel propellant, though DRDO is believed to be looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion similar to that used in its Akash surface-to-air missile project. This missile was successfully tested without control and guidance systems on May 9 to May 12, 2003. The missile was again successfully tested on 25 March 2007. On 27 March the vertical launch of the missile was carried out suggesting the use of the missile as a long range surface to air missile for the Indian Navy to arm its destroyers and frigates and for the Indian Air Force.
The ground testing of the Astra missile was successful. The missile was successfully tested on September 13, 2008. The missile will be able to intercept target aircraft at supersonic speed. Test flight of the missile from IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft will be carried out before induction of the missile into service. On 11 January 2010, India test-fired Astra in the Chandipur-on-sea area, off the Orissa coast however the test wasn't proved successful. A slight failure in electronic system of the missile was reported. Initially planned to arm Jaguar, MIG-29 and indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas, DRDO officials are now indicating that after user trials, the missile would be integrated with Indian Air Force's front-line fighter aircraft like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000s.
The testing of the dual-mode guidance was carried out in May 2009. Captive flight trials of Astra missile were carried out in November 2009. Another set of trials were conducted on 11 Jan 2010 at Balasore in Orissa.
The night trials of the Astra was carried out successfully on 6 June 2010. Another test was carried out on 7 June 2010. Both were successful.
Further tests of Astra missile carried out on July 7, 2010, at both night and daytime under inclement weather conditions were successful.
India on May 20,2011, carried out the ballistic flight test of Astra -- Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile -- from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur."The main purpose of today's trial is to gauge the performance of the motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation," said a DRDO scientist. The missile, after its final trials, would be integrated with fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI.| Astra | |
|---|---|
| Type | Air to Air Missile |
| Place of origin |  India |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | DRDO |
| Produced | Under development |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 154 kg |
| Length | 3570 mm |
| Diameter | 178 mm |
| | |
| Warhead | 15 kg (33 lb) HE fragmentation directional warhead |
| Detonation mechanism | Radar proximity fuze |
| | |
| Engine | Solid Fuel Rocket |
| Wingspan | 254 mm |
| Operational range | 80-100 km head on, 20 km tail chase |
| Flight ceiling | 66,000 ft |
| Speed | Mach 4 + |
| Guidance system | Inertial, mid-course update and terminal active radar homing (15 km) |
| Launch platform | Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, PAK FA/ Sukhoi/HAL FGFA, Mirage 2000 and Mig-29. |
