Astra missile proves anti-jamming capability

[sudhir007]

Astra missile proves anti-jamming capability - NATIONAL - The Hindu

A crucial capability of the air-to-air Astra missile —its resistance to jamming — was successfully validated in recent trials conducted by missile scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which indigenously developed the compact missile.

After carrying out some more trials, including air launch trial with a warhead, the Beyond-Visual Range missile is set to be inducted into the Air Force next year, DRDO sources told The Hindu here on Friday.

During the recent ground and air trials conducted near Pune, the missile’s RF seeker and other electronic components were sought to be jammed to see how it performs in such a scenario at the time of war when the enemy tries to jam its operation. The ECCM (electronic counter-counter measure) features of the missile to overcome any jamming were evaluated. “The trials were vigorous. But the state-of-the-art missile did very well,” said the sources.

While several developmental trials, including captive flight mode, were already completed, next month’s tests would evaluate its performance in different scenarios and cover the entire air launch envelope required before its induction.

The all-weather, radar homing missile has high manoeuvrability and capability to engage and destroy aerial targets at supersonic speeds. The 60-km plus range missile possesses Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) making it one of the most reliable in its class of weapon systems.

The missile could be launched at different altitudes from sea level to 20 km for engaging aerial targets at various ranges.

Integration

Apart from integrating the missile with Su-30, it is planned to be mounted on other fighter aircraft including Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Mirage-2000 and MIG-29.

The missile complex at Hyderabad and several DRDO laboratories in partnership with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force developed Astra.

The sources said the DRDO was planning to develop different versions of longer range air-launch missiles as the missile scientists now got a handle on air-to-air missile technology.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

It's time to get Nag and Astra to go production mode like Akash. From what I read of both, it seems to be in reach now.

 

[Skull and Bones]

It's time to get Nag and Astra to go production mode like Akash. From what I read of both, it seems to be in reach now.

There's a need to make an active homing version of Akash. A Salvo launch of one beam riding and one active homing missile towards a target will ensure 100% efficiency.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

The 60-km plus range missile possesses Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) making it one of the most reliable in its class of weapon systems.

• Astra Mk1 is now 60km?
• SSKP or simply High Kp - Does it define anything to understand ??
• What about NEZ? (No Escape Zone)
• Any idea on Gs?

A case in hand to understand like say Derby ER
I-Derby-ER, from what I have found, is a classical-type missile with air-to-air range of 100 km. It has a “second-kick” capability, a propulsion system which activates during terminal approach to target. This means that its *effective* range is around 100 km against aircraft in approach.. That being said, since this “second kick” is a secondary propulsion system and not primary one, I’d estimate its effectiveness closer but lower to Meteor.

Confirmation is here: Rafael unveils I-Derby ER BVRAAM | IHS Jane's 360
Quote:
The new beyond-visual-range (BVR) AAM, known as I-Derby ER, retains the legacy Derby (which is now no longer made) missile's airframe, but introduces new capabilities with a dual-pulse rocket motor, and a replacement for the Israel Aerospace Industries-developed travelling-wave tube radio frequency (RF) seeker
"The additional pulse [solid state rocket motor] is initiated by the missile's flight control system [automatic pilot], which manages the flight plan of the missile.

From the above it looks like the Derby ER is using a second stage similar to Pulse Motor for Barak 8 which India had developed (the pulse motor part)... Effectively the KP and higher speed allows much lower time to react towards the terminal phase and makes it have a very effective NEZ over the entire flight envelope.

For the record, Velocity loss after burn-out also varies with altitude, with 25% of current velocity being lost every 150 s at 24 km, 25 s at 12 km and 5 s at sea level. Thus this second stage kick allows to correct this issue and effectively make the missile far lethal.

And our Astra is BVR A2A powered by a smokeless, single stage, solid fuel propulsion system.

A quick question now

• Pulse motor for barak 8 is India developed
• Derby ER uses that concept
• Then why Astra family or Astra 1/2 or may be even Astra 3 dont use that technology?
• Why dont we get that kick, higher speed at terminal phase of flight envelope and make it far more lethal in complete flight envelope?

@Abingdonboy @FrenchPilot @MilSpec @AUSTERLITZ @SpArK @SR-91 @Aminroop @anant_s @Water Car Engineer @knight11

Can you help me on this folks..

For record an AMRAAM also uses two stages

 

[Perpendicular]

Crucial steps in missile development, will surely save some dollars to procure some armament from home. Add it to the LCA with fast production, and you have a true capability.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

There's a need to make an active homing version of Akash. A Salvo launch of one beam riding and one active homing missile towards a target will ensure 100% efficiency.

I think mark 2 has that feature in it's specs.

 

[Joseph Goebbels]

i wonder what stops DRDO in designing a pair i mean astra is active radar homing why not use a modified IIR seeker as on NAG ?
and also vertically launched versions as SAM for both and make some SAM system like SPYDER ?

 

[knight11]

• Astra Mk1 is now 60km?
• SSKP or simply High Kp - Does it define anything to understand ??
• What about NEZ? (No Escape Zone)
• Any idea on Gs?

A case in hand to understand like say Derby ER
I-Derby-ER, from what I have found, is a classical-type missile with air-to-air range of 100 km. It has a “second-kick” capability, a propulsion system which activates during terminal approach to target. This means that its *effective* range is around 100 km against aircraft in approach.. That being said, since this “second kick” is a secondary propulsion system and not primary one, I’d estimate its effectiveness closer but lower to Meteor.

Confirmation is here: Rafael unveils I-Derby ER BVRAAM | IHS Jane's 360
Quote:
The new beyond-visual-range (BVR) AAM, known as I-Derby ER, retains the legacy Derby (which is now no longer made) missile's airframe, but introduces new capabilities with a dual-pulse rocket motor, and a replacement for the Israel Aerospace Industries-developed travelling-wave tube radio frequency (RF) seeker
"The additional pulse [solid state rocket motor] is initiated by the missile's flight control system [automatic pilot], which manages the flight plan of the missile.

From the above it looks like the Derby ER is using a second stage similar to Pulse Motor for Barak 8 which India had developed (the pulse motor part)... Effectively the KP and higher speed allows much lower time to react towards the terminal phase and makes it have a very effective NEZ over the entire flight envelope.

For the record, Velocity loss after burn-out also varies with altitude, with 25% of current velocity being lost every 150 s at 24 km, 25 s at 12 km and 5 s at sea level. Thus this second stage kick allows to correct this issue and effectively make the missile far lethal.

And our Astra is BVR A2A powered by a smokeless, single stage, solid fuel propulsion system.

A quick question now

• Pulse motor for barak 8 is India developed
• Derby ER uses that concept
• Then why Astra family or Astra 1/2 or may be even Astra 3 dont use that technology?
• Why dont we get that kick, higher speed at terminal phase of flight envelope and make it far more lethal in complete flight envelope?

@Abingdonboy @FrenchPilot @MilSpec @AUSTERLITZ @SpArK @SR-91 @Aminroop @anant_s @Water Car Engineer @knight11

Can you help me on this folks..

For record an AMRAAM also uses two stages

Thanks for tagging me, however I don't have much knowledge in this domain, but try to answer few

1. Range of BVR is totally Hoshbag, because it will depend on various factors like altitude at which it is fired, and the speed of the releasing platform itself.

source 風俗に感謝

Astra missile to be fired, two variants revealed
By SP's Special Correspondent
Photo Credit : SP's Special Correspondent

Astra MissileJuly 06, 2013: With successful captive trials completed in April, and a fully reconfigured missile now ready for the next phase of development testing, India's indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile Astra is set for its debut firing from an aircraft by the end of this year. As first reported in SP's Aviation in March this year, 2013 has been christened 'Astra Year' by DRDO in light of expectations that the Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile will finally see a flight test firing from an IAF aircraft.

Now, it is confirmed that it will happen. It has also now learnt that while the base version Astra Mk.1 will have an intercept range of 44 km, it will be the Astra Mk.2 that will be a true force multiplier weapon, with an intercept range in excess of 100 km. That, at any rate, is the intended configuration. The Astra will be deployed from underwing hardpoints on the Su-30MKI, not wingtip pylons as earlier intended. The Astra is an all-weather all aspect beyond visual range and close combat missile that will be deployed on the IAF's LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000 and possible, the Rafale MMRCA in the future too. The missile sports active radar terminal guidance (dual mode guidance), smokeless propulsion, improve electronic counter-countermeasures and what the DRDO calls improved effectiveness in a multi-target scenario.

So according to this report the Range is 44 KM, but at what Altitude ??

source India's Astra tested for night operations

The DRDO said Astra will be able to be launched from different altitudes but those alterations would affect the range. It will cover nearly 70 miles when launched from an altitude of just more than 9 miles but only 27 miles when fired from an altitude of 5 miles (9K feet).

At sea level the range is expected to be 13 miles.

Active homing range will be nearly 16 miles.

A longer range version, the Astra Mark 2, will have a 93-mile head on range with a tail chase range of 21 miles. The DRDO also is said to be looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion similar to that used in its Akash surface-to-air missile project.

27 miles, 44 km is the range obtained at 5 miles altitude or 8 km alt.

At 9 miles, say around 15-16 km altitude, the range obtained is 70 miles, or 112 km.


Sorry to Burst the Bubble of many people on PDF who thinks that with BVR fighter planes could be destroyed 100+ km away and still banging their heads on who will detect whom first, and the calculating the number of fighter distroyed within some range.

Actually the range of 112 Km of Astra or 100 Km of r77 is the head on chase target. Refer to the Picture here

To take one example, the Vympel R-77 has a stated range of 100 km against a head-on target at high altitude, but only 25 km in a stern chase. At low altitude it can fire at head-on targets at 20 km, from which we can guess range in a stern chase is 5 km. (See the above diagram.)
And this is presumably against targets that don't try to evade.

Range varies similarly for all other BVR.

Refer detailed parameters of all BVRs

Air-to-air missile non-comparison table


What is excited about Astra

BVR & CCM (second means it has a very low minimum range & a single aircraft can presumably be all Astra equipped)

Seeker can be slewed to IRST & HMS (this means passive launches - sneaky!)

Autonomous search before launch backs up above two points

Offbore sight launch - another big plus

And yes, buddy mode! (This means fighter 1 launches missile, fighter 2 illuminate the targe say MKI, LCA combo

2. SSKP Single Shot Kill Probability is the important factor while calculating the effectiveness of the BVR and it depends on many factors like Kinematic energy of the BVR in its No escape zone, and the effectiveness of the proximity of the Fuse.

3. Dual Pulse Motor will be in Astra MK2


Few of my inputs Here

1. Speed range and agility is not every thing, what is more important is the Seeker, which is Russian AGGAT in Astra, and the Proximity Fuse, which is also Russian in Astra.

2. Desi Seeker Ku/X band seeker have been fabricated and in the flight trial test stage.

3. What makes Derby ER different is its not only its dual pulse motor for extended range, but its SBR Software Based Radar, very powerful miniature cpu, and best algorithm for the detection of the targerand Dual colour Seeker. It have well designed surface control, making it highly agile.

4. Similarly French MICA is at par with Derby or Python, with 13 control surface, its highly agile, and effective.

5. The Range of BVR highly depends on the software

6. India should learn from Israeli not the seeker tech. but the algorithm of the seeker, because they have the best experience in this field in the world.

7. Small range of MICA IR/RF, and Derby does not makes them inferior, and are par with the AMRAM 120

 

[SR-91]

• Astra Mk1 is now 60km?
• SSKP or simply High Kp - Does it define anything to understand ??
• What about NEZ? (No Escape Zone)
• Any idea on Gs?

A case in hand to understand like say Derby ER
I-Derby-ER, from what I have found, is a classical-type missile with air-to-air range of 100 km. It has a “second-kick” capability, a propulsion system which activates during terminal approach to target. This means that its *effective* range is around 100 km against aircraft in approach.. That being said, since this “second kick” is a secondary propulsion system and not primary one, I’d estimate its effectiveness closer but lower to Meteor.

Confirmation is here: Rafael unveils I-Derby ER BVRAAM | IHS Jane's 360
Quote:
The new beyond-visual-range (BVR) AAM, known as I-Derby ER, retains the legacy Derby (which is now no longer made) missile's airframe, but introduces new capabilities with a dual-pulse rocket motor, and a replacement for the Israel Aerospace Industries-developed travelling-wave tube radio frequency (RF) seeker
"The additional pulse [solid state rocket motor] is initiated by the missile's flight control system [automatic pilot], which manages the flight plan of the missile.

From the above it looks like the Derby ER is using a second stage similar to Pulse Motor for Barak 8 which India had developed (the pulse motor part)... Effectively the KP and higher speed allows much lower time to react towards the terminal phase and makes it have a very effective NEZ over the entire flight envelope.

For the record, Velocity loss after burn-out also varies with altitude, with 25% of current velocity being lost every 150 s at 24 km, 25 s at 12 km and 5 s at sea level. Thus this second stage kick allows to correct this issue and effectively make the missile far lethal.

And our Astra is BVR A2A powered by a smokeless, single stage, solid fuel propulsion system.

A quick question now

• Pulse motor for barak 8 is India developed
• Derby ER uses that concept
• Then why Astra family or Astra 1/2 or may be even Astra 3 dont use that technology?
• Why dont we get that kick, higher speed at terminal phase of flight envelope and make it far more lethal in complete flight envelope?

@Abingdonboy @FrenchPilot @MilSpec @AUSTERLITZ @SpArK @SR-91 @Aminroop @anant_s @Water Car Engineer @knight11

Can you help me on this folks..

For record an AMRAAM also uses two stages

We know, Barak 8 dual pulse motor is highly successful. As soon as they announced this motor development took place in India.
I'm sure our scientists are already looking to fit into ASTRA 1 If they can, we will have one lethal weapons. If not, expect them to build a new missile using this DPM.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.

 

[Manindra]

We know, Barak 8 dual pulse motor is highly successful. As soon as they announced this motor development took place in India.
I'm sure our scientists are already looking to fit into ASTRA 1 If they can, we will have one lethal weapons. If not, expect them to build a new missile using this DPM.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.

Astra already have smoke less dual pulse motor.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Astra already have smoke less dual pulse motor.

I dont think mark 1 has dual pulse motor. Being readied for mark 2.

 

[Manindra]

I dont think mark 1 has dual pulse motor. Being readied for mark 2.

We know, Barak 8 dual pulse motor is highly successful. As soon as they announced this motor development took place in India.
I'm sure our scientists are already looking to fit into ASTRA 1 If they can, we will have one lethal weapons. If not, expect them to build a new missile using this DPM.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.

Sorry, my mistake.

 

[knight11]

Smokeless Motor of Astra MK1 is due to its liquid fueled motor, Solid fuel makes do make smokes check chinese PL-12A launch Pics.

Pulsed rocket motor give help in crossing the barrier of the fact that once solid fuel started, it is not easy to be controlled, or shutdown like liquid fuel motor. Astra -2 will have Dual pulse solid fuel Motor. but now the new age of Meteros Ram jet propulsion have been started with Meterors, AMRAAM Ramjet, and R77 new derevative.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Thanks for tagging me, however I don't have much knowledge in this domain, but try to answer few

1. Range of BVR is totally Hoshbag, because it will depend on various factors like altitude at which it is fired, and the speed of the releasing platform itself.

source 風俗に感謝


So according to this report the Range is 44 KM, but at what Altitude ??

source India's Astra tested for night operations



27 miles, 44 km is the range obtained at 5 miles altitude or 8 km alt.

At 9 miles, say around 15-16 km altitude, the range obtained is 70 miles, or 112 km.


Sorry to Burst the Bubble of many people on PDF who thinks that with BVR fighter planes could be destroyed 100+ km away and still banging their heads on who will detect whom first, and the calculating the number of fighter distroyed within some range.

Actually the range of 112 Km of Astra or 100 Km of r77 is the head on chase target. Refer to the Picture here

To take one example, the Vympel R-77 has a stated range of 100 km against a head-on target at high altitude, but only 25 km in a stern chase. At low altitude it can fire at head-on targets at 20 km, from which we can guess range in a stern chase is 5 km. (See the above diagram.)
And this is presumably against targets that don't try to evade.

Range varies similarly for all other BVR.

Refer detailed parameters of all BVRs

Air-to-air missile non-comparison table


What is excited about Astra

BVR & CCM (second means it has a very low minimum range & a single aircraft can presumably be all Astra equipped)

Seeker can be slewed to IRST & HMS (this means passive launches - sneaky!)

Autonomous search before launch backs up above two points

Offbore sight launch - another big plus

And yes, buddy mode! (This means fighter 1 launches missile, fighter 2 illuminate the targe say MKI, LCA combo

2. SSKP Single Shot Kill Probability is the important factor while calculating the effectiveness of the BVR and it depends on many factors like Kinematic energy of the BVR in its No escape zone, and the effectiveness of the proximity of the Fuse.

3. Dual Pulse Motor will be in Astra MK2


Few of my inputs Here

1. Speed range and agility is not every thing, what is more important is the Seeker, which is Russian AGGAT in Astra, and the Proximity Fuse, which is also Russian in Astra.

2. Desi Seeker Ku/X band seeker have been fabricated and in the flight trial test stage.

3. What makes Derby ER different is its not only its dual pulse motor for extended range, but its SBR Software Based Radar, very powerful miniature cpu, and best algorithm for the detection of the targerand Dual colour Seeker. It have well designed surface control, making it highly agile.

4. Similarly French MICA is at par with Derby or Python, with 13 control surface, its highly agile, and effective.

5. The Range of BVR highly depends on the software

6. India should learn from Israeli not the seeker tech. but the algorithm of the seeker, because they have the best experience in this field in the world.

7. Small range of MICA IR/RF, and Derby does not makes them inferior, and are par with the AMRAM 120

BRO hats off.. Awesome information.. Thanks a lot.. enjoyed reading such details.. Positive rating from my side for sure..

 

[Ind4Ever]

i wonder what stops DRDO in designing a pair i mean astra is active radar homing why not use a modified IIR seeker as on NAG ?
and also vertically launched versions as SAM for both and make some SAM system like SPYDER ?

When launched vertically the range is less than air launched. So Astral needs to go through a very long way to match our Sam capability. Like LR or SR Sams. First we need to make this project a success by going for serial production later it will evolve into Mk 2 version with more range and power TV exhaust