Published 18:40 IST, July 2nd 2020

Defence Ministry acquires 248 indigenously designed ASTRA missles for IAF & Indian Navy

Defence Ministry has cleared the acquisition of 248 Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, marking the first acquisition of the indigenous DRDO missiles

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In a major boost to Indian armed forces, Defence Ministry has cleared acquisition of 248 Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, marking first acquisition of indigenous DRDO-developed missiles. Of se missiles, Navy will get 48 Astra missiles for its MiG-29K fighter jets, while 200 missiles have been acquired for its 33 new Russian fighter planes including 12 Su-30 MKIs and 21 MiG-29s. Proposals worth  Rs 38,900 crore have been cleared by Defence Acquisition Council, of which Rs 31,130 crore would be from Indian industry.

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Defence ministry clears ASTRA acquisition proposal

With Rs 38,900 crore acquisition, Defence Ministry attributed this to current situation and need to strengn Armed Forces for safeguarding our borders.  he equipment to be manufactured in India will witness participation of several MSMEs as prime-tier vendors. This move comes amid ongoing LAC standoff with China which turned violent where 20 jawans were martyred in a scuffle with Chinese troops.

se are some of approved proposals:

  • Pinaka ammunition- which will enable raising ditional regiments
  • BMP armament upgres
  • Software-Defined Rios for Army
  • Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems- having a firing range of 1000 km
  • 248 Astra Missiles- which have Beyond Visual Range capability
  • 21 MiG-29 fighter jets
  • Upgration of existing 59 MiG-29 fighter jets
  • 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft

In a major boost to IAF, Defence Ministry approves acquisitions worth approx. Rs.38900 Cr.

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What are recent acquisitions?

ASTRA

ASTRA is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) class of Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) system designed to be mounted on fighter aircraft. missile is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aircraft. missile has all-wear day and night capability. missile is being developed in multiple variants to meet specific requirements. ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF) and can be launched in autonomous and buddy mode of operation with features for Lock-On-Before Launch (LOBL) and Lock-On After Launch (LOAL).

Software Defined Rio (SDR)

SDR is a secure indigenous system with legacy communication support and secure digital voice/data communication for Naval application with 3 channel (2V/UHF band and 1HF band), 4-channel (2V/UHF band and 2L-band) for Tactical Communication and single-channel operation in V/UHF (Manpack role) and UHF band (Handheld role).

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Pinaka

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Pinaka is all-wear, indirect fire, free flight artillery rocket system. It provides a unique capability to accurately deliver a devastatingly lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets such as exposed enemy troops, armored and soft skin vehicles, communication centers, air terminal complexes, fuel and ammunition dumps. Pinaka weapon system consists of Rocket, Multi Barrel Rocket launcher, Battery Command Post, Loer cum Replenishment Vehicle, Replenishment Vehicle and Digicora MET Rar.

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Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)

This LRLACM - a subsonic missile will have a range in excess of 1,000 km and will be launched from a UVLM (Universal Vertical Launcher Module) of BrahMos. se missiles will have aerodynamic configuration, vertical launch using solid booster, thrust vector control system, booster separation, in-flight wing deployment, in-flight engine start and long range way-point navigation system. Seeker development and testing by DRDO laboratories have shown a high level of reiness, which greatly enhances operational capability of services.
(Inputs from DRDO)
 

18:40 IST, July 2nd 2020