In a major development, India to test-fire indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) ASTRA-2. As per our sources, Astra MK2 development is at advanced stages of completion. If our sources are correct the first-ever user trails of Astra-2 BVR missiles to be conducted next month in March.
The Air to Air missile induction is slated to be by the year 2022. Giving India a massive advantage over its adversaries.
Astra is an all-weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing.
The first variant Astra-1 Missile flies at a speed of 4.5 matches. Astra-1 air-to-air missile 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). The maximum range of Astra is 110 km (68 mi) in head-on chase mode and 20 km (12 mi) in tail chase mode.
The Astra Mk1 will be capable of detecting, tracking, and destroying highly agile supersonic fighters armed with anti-missile measures at long ranges.
It will also be equipped with advanced electronic counter-countermeasures to negate jamming by hostile aircraft.
Astra Mark -2, an extended range of the indigenous beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile ‘Astra’ (Sanskrit/Hindi for a launched weapon), which will enable it to strike enemy targets 160 km away, without getting out of its airspace, ThePrint has learned.
To make the Astra Mark 2 even deadlier, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on a dual-pulse rocket motor to extend the range up to 160 km by May 2022, sources in the defense and security establishment told ThePrint.
Work is also going on to replace the Russian radio frequency (RF) seekers’ on the missile with indigenous ones, a source said.
India is not stopping just with Astra Mark-1 BVR with 100 Km range, Astra Mark-2 BVR with 160km range, Astra IR within visual range missiles. India plans to dominate modern air combat with a 350 Km range! Named SFDR Astra Mark 3 developmental trials are slated for 2022 next year.
Source : Wikipedia, ThePrint, DRDO, Social media
