IAF To Arm Sukhoi Su-30MKI ,MiG-29 And Tejas Mk1A With DRDO's Astra BVR Missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will equip Astra air-to-air missile system on Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk 1A and MiG-29 UPG. Astra is a beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile system which has been indeginously desgined and developed to take down enemy aircraft and drones.   

About Astra Missiles

Astra missile is an air-to-air state of art missile system developed by DRDO. This missile is designed in a manner to engage and destroy aerial targets at various ranges and altitudes. Astra missile has a range of upto 110 km and it can engage targets at altitudes of upto 20 km. 

missile is capable of engaging both agile and non-manoeuvering targets, making it highly versatile in air to air combat situation. It uses a solid-fuel rocket motor and an vance guidance system to achieve its exceptional performance. missile’s guidance system includes inertial navigation, mid-course guidance and active rar homing for terminal guidance.

This allows missile system to track and engage targets even in verse wear conditions and electronic countermeasures environments. Astra missile can be launched from many aircrafts including Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000 and Tejas. missile is equipped with an onboard rio proximity fuse that enables it to detonate when close to target providing maximum impact and damage. Astra was first time tested in 2003 and underwent several successful trials before being inducted.

This missile is crucial for India’s air defence capabilities providing country indigenous  and highly vance air-to-air defence capabilities. LCA Tejas on which se missiles will be equipped is an indigenous fighter aircraft developed by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). aircraft was designed to replace ageing MiG-21.

Tejas is a lightweight, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft which is capable of air superiority, ground attack and reconnaissance mission. Its maximum speed is of Mach 1.8 and a range of over 3000 km making it a highly versatile aircraft. Tejas is equipped with state of art weapon system, vance rar, electronic warfare suite and a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles .

aircrafts cockpit is also designed as a pilot friendly cockpit with excellent situational awareness with modern glass cockpit and hes up display. Tejas has undergone several upgres including new technologies and weapons system. It is at par with modern aircrafts with latest technological features.

Tejas Mk 1 -A features vanced weapons and avionics. It includes  Israeli Derby Beyond Visual range missile. tejas is a significant achievement for India in aerospace industry as it is first aircraft to completely designed and manufactured in country.