Astra missile
Encyclopedia
Astra is an active radar homing
beyond-visual-range
air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)
developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), India
. Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km) using alternative propulsion modes. As of May 2011, the missile is undergoing developmental trials.
(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.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.
. A radar fuse already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse. Astra has on-board ECCM capability allowing it to jam radar signals from an enemy surface-to-air battery, ensuring that the missile is not tracked or shot down. The Mark 2 version of Astra will have a maximum range of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km.
Active radar homing
Active radar homing is a missile guidance method in which a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously...
beyond-visual-range
Beyond Visual Range missile
A beyond-visual-range missile usually refers to an air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond . This range has been achieved using dual pulse rocket motors or booster rocket motor and ramjet sustainer motor....
air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
Defence Research and Development Organisation
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is a agency of the Republic of India, responsible for the development of technology for use by the military, headquartered in New Delhi, India...
(DRDO), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km) using alternative propulsion modes. As of May 2011, the missile is undergoing developmental trials.
Development and Trials
Defence Research and Development OrganisationDefence Research and Development Organisation
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is a agency of the Republic of India, responsible for the development of technology for use by the military, headquartered in New Delhi, India...
(DRDO) is developing this advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to arm the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
's Mirage 2000H, MiG-29, Sea Harrier
BAE Sea Harrier
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval VTOL/STOVL jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar"...
, Su-30MKI
Su-30MKI
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is an air superiority fighter jointly developed by Russia's Sukhoi and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force...
, MiG-21 Bison
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
and HAL Tejas
HAL Tejas
The HAL Tejas is a lightweight multirole fighter developed by India. It is a tailless, compound delta-wing design powered by a single engine. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters...
fighter aircraft.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
Akash missile
Akash is India's medium range surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Bharat Electronics Limited as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The missile can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to...
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
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
to arm its destroyers and frigates and for the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
.
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
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
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
Balasore
Balasore is a strategically located city in the state of Orissa, about north of the state capital Bhubaneswar, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also the site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense...
in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
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.
Performance
The maximum range of Astra is 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 . The missile can reportedly undertake 40 g turns close to sea level, when attacking a maneuvering target. It will have an active homing range of 25 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead and is fitted with a proximity fuzeProximity fuze
A proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane...
. A radar fuse already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse. Astra has on-board ECCM capability allowing it to jam radar signals from an enemy surface-to-air battery, ensuring that the missile is not tracked or shot down. The Mark 2 version of Astra will have a maximum range of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km.
External links
- Globalsecurity
- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/aam/astra-aam.html
- DRDL to develop Astra missile