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HYDERABAD: In what will equip India with missile power comparable to only a few in the world, Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is finalising plans to launch Astra, the Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, in March or at the most April this year. If Astra is successfully fired from a Su-30 aircraft, India would join the elite group of nations including USA, France, Russia and Israel possessing such missiles capable of engaging ultra-modern supersonic fighter jets.
Summing up the developments so far, Dr V G Sekaran, distinguished scientist & director general, missiles and strategic systems while speaking exclusively to TOI said that so far, the captive trials have been completed and that they were a phenomenal success. Now, DRDO is planning for live trial or the maiden launch of Astra from Su-30.
Astra has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the lab of DRDO, under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of India. Its avionics have been provided by the Research Centre Imarat, yet another DRDO lab here. Dr Sekaran said DRDO and the users are very happy with the outcome of extensive captive trials of Astra with Sukhoi-30 aircraft in Pune. These captive trials have been wrapped up just recently after months of wide ranging trials which started on November 29, 2013. "Now, we would see its overall performance with respect to various parameters from the point of initial launch till the terminal end", said Dr Sekaran.
Avinash Chander, scientific advisor to defence minister and DG DRDO, also confirmed the maiden flight launch of Astra from Su-30 in March or so. Development trials of Astra in December 2012 from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, were successful in targeting, Lakshya, the Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA). But so far, Astra has also been fired from a fixed launcher on ground.
Prestigious plans are in place to arm various IAF aircraft including indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI and even the Sea Harrier with Astra. It is to be mentioned that IAF shall get Astra after much wait and delay involving almost 10 years of development trials by DRDO since 2003. After its initial poor performance a decade ago, Astra was sent back to the drawing board and has now an altogether new design.
Factfile:
The 3.8-metre long, single stage, solid fuelled missile is finally expected to have two different versions for different altitudes and ranges including Astra Mark-I, which shall have a range of 44 km, and Astra Mark-II, with a range of over 100km.
Astra can cruise at various altitudes with varying ranges while evading radar and intercepting and engaging the 'supersonic targets' by manoeuvring its speed accordingly.
Armed with superior electronic warfare capabilities, its Electronic Counter-Counter Measures lends it immunity from being followed and targeted.
Astra can carry a 15 kg high explosive warhead at a Mach 4 speed.
DRDO is aiming at clearing Astra for induction into IAF by 2015.
In the absence of a low-cost indigenous BVRAAM, IAF has been importing missiles from Israel, Russia and France to equip its fighter fleet.
Astra air-to-air missile to be launched in March-April - The Times of India
Summing up the developments so far, Dr V G Sekaran, distinguished scientist & director general, missiles and strategic systems while speaking exclusively to TOI said that so far, the captive trials have been completed and that they were a phenomenal success. Now, DRDO is planning for live trial or the maiden launch of Astra from Su-30.
Astra has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the lab of DRDO, under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of India. Its avionics have been provided by the Research Centre Imarat, yet another DRDO lab here. Dr Sekaran said DRDO and the users are very happy with the outcome of extensive captive trials of Astra with Sukhoi-30 aircraft in Pune. These captive trials have been wrapped up just recently after months of wide ranging trials which started on November 29, 2013. "Now, we would see its overall performance with respect to various parameters from the point of initial launch till the terminal end", said Dr Sekaran.
Avinash Chander, scientific advisor to defence minister and DG DRDO, also confirmed the maiden flight launch of Astra from Su-30 in March or so. Development trials of Astra in December 2012 from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, were successful in targeting, Lakshya, the Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA). But so far, Astra has also been fired from a fixed launcher on ground.
Prestigious plans are in place to arm various IAF aircraft including indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI and even the Sea Harrier with Astra. It is to be mentioned that IAF shall get Astra after much wait and delay involving almost 10 years of development trials by DRDO since 2003. After its initial poor performance a decade ago, Astra was sent back to the drawing board and has now an altogether new design.
Factfile:
The 3.8-metre long, single stage, solid fuelled missile is finally expected to have two different versions for different altitudes and ranges including Astra Mark-I, which shall have a range of 44 km, and Astra Mark-II, with a range of over 100km.
Astra can cruise at various altitudes with varying ranges while evading radar and intercepting and engaging the 'supersonic targets' by manoeuvring its speed accordingly.
Armed with superior electronic warfare capabilities, its Electronic Counter-Counter Measures lends it immunity from being followed and targeted.
Astra can carry a 15 kg high explosive warhead at a Mach 4 speed.
DRDO is aiming at clearing Astra for induction into IAF by 2015.
In the absence of a low-cost indigenous BVRAAM, IAF has been importing missiles from Israel, Russia and France to equip its fighter fleet.
Astra air-to-air missile to be launched in March-April - The Times of India
