DRDO readies for ‘Astra’ test

[Skull and Bones]

bas 1.4 mach?????????

Na betajee, maximum speed of Astra AAM is well over mach 4.

 

[selvan33]

bas 1.4 mach?????????

that its end range speed. initial acceralation and end range will be less than the mid course.

 

[Mujraparty]

India successfully test-fired its Astra missile


A day after a perfect developmental trial of "Astra", India on Saturday again successfully test-fired its indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, 15 km from Balasore in Odisha.

The sophisticated missile was test-fired from a launcher in launch pad-2 of the ITR at about 3.34pm targeting a flying object being supported by a pilotless target air-craft 'Lakshya', defence sources said.
"The trial was successful. All mission objectives and parameters were met," ITR Director MVKV Prasad said.

Saturday's successful test-fire was significant as it came a day after a similar trial conducted from the same base on Friday, a defence scientist said.

The single stage, solid fuelled 'Astra' missile is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets.

The 3.8 metre long missile, having a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg, can carry a warhead containing conventional explosives weighing 15 kg. It can be fitted to any fighter aircraft.

It is intended to be eventually integrated with Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force, the sources said.

Describing 'Astra' as a futuristic missile, DRDO scientists said the weapon could intercept the target at supersonic speed.

"Before being made fully operational, the complex missile system will undergo some more trials, though tests of its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-system have been validated," the sources said.

Scientists of the DRDO are working to ensure that 'Astra' missile performs effectively at different altitudes -one at an altitude of 15 km with 90 to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft having a range of 44 km while the third at sea level with a range of 21 km, the sources added.

India successfully test-fired its Astra missile - Hindustan Times

 

[Tangent]

...Good News...
...but poor reporting...

 

[Vinod2070]

Scientists of the DRDO are working to ensure that 'Astra' missile performs effectively at different altitudes -one at an altitude of 15 km with 90 to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft having a range of 44 km while the third at sea level with a range of 21 km, the sources added.

I hope we can get to a larger range soon, comparable to the best out there.

Air to air missiles are one of the most complex piece of technology. Good to see India making decent progress in this space.

 

[rahul_rao]

Na betajee, maximum speed of Astra AAM is well over mach 4.

are khasam pehle uski baat sun wo kya keh rha tha

 

[flightlieutenantshikari]

The missile performed farely well in captive trials I heard.Also,with its weight,it will be having a bumpy ride before it gets near LCA.

 

[Skull and Bones]

are khasam pehle uski baat sun wo kya keh rha tha

Target ki speed hai wo janaab, not the missile.

 

[rashtriya.rifles]

Na betajee, maximum speed of Astra AAM is well over mach 4.

are khasam pehle uski baat sun wo kya keh rha tha

Target ki speed hai wo janaab, not the missile.

This is why i like pdf

 

[Manticore]

Stick to topic . Next time there will be infractions

 

[jha]

Good Work... So, speculations are proving to be true.

 

[PRINCE_THE_SHOWSTOPPER]

I really doubt that is possible, maybe in the far future AWACS may have such interception abilities but it seems rather impossible now.
It really doesn't matter though, coz AWACS are usually escorted by a group of interceptors, and more than often the SAM sites or the planes carrying "awacs killers" will most probably be detected by the AWACS themselves which will rally the information to the fighters, which will take the appropriate steps to take them down.
However lets face it Pakistan is no Iraq or Afghanistan, therefore it should be noted that in the case of anall out Indo-Pak war the AWACS won't exactly fly freely, unless and until the ground forces have neutralized the necessary Pakistani assets and the IAF has successfully undertaken SEAD missions.
Till then AWACS are most probably are a NO GO.
There can also be other parameters that may come into play.

exactly this thing was crossing my mind but i cannot agree with the bolded parts....in case of an all-out indo-pak war,the AWACS would be on 24hrs duty as they will track not only the incomming aircrafts,drones,and cruise missiles but will also play a pivotal role in different dogfights and BVR operations....so we have to use them,no matter how vulnerable these are..the same will go to PAF also,they would be compelled to use their awacs knowing very well the threat they would receive from "Novator K-100"

 

[ApparentRaceTraitor]

exactly this thing was crossing my mind but i cannot agree with the bolded parts....in case of an all-out indo-pak war,the AWACS would be on 24hrs duty as they will track not only the incomming aircrafts,drones,and cruise missiles but will also play a pivotal role in different dogfights and BVR operations....so we have to use them,no matter how vulnerable these are..the same will go to PAF also,they would be compelled to use their awacs knowing very well the threat they would receive from "Novator K-100"

Which needs to be incorporated into IAF's stratagem ASAFP.

 

[rockstarIN]

The plan is to replace the current Russian missiles, a plan alone doesn't mean that our first own missile will be as capable. One thing that you can see throughout all developments is, that our designs have weight and drag issues. Even NAG is bigger and heavier than most comparable systems, so lets wait and see.
However, my point was that even if it don't offer the clamed 100Km, it still would be important to have it as a base of our fighter weaponpackage and that's what we have to focus on with our indigenous developments, not to confuse them with top notch systems of other countries.

I understand that. But if DRDO/IAF thinks that it is not capable with other Russian missile systems, why they are going to induct into Su-MKI, which will be our back bone of our AF? They do have trust on Astra systems, which is significantly reduce the limitations of Russian missiles.

I hope we can get to a larger range soon, comparable to the best out there.

Air to air missiles are one of the most complex piece of technology. Good to see India making decent progress in this space.

I think the range given above are the range of R-77, Armram(not the latest versions) and more than Derby missile, which is quite good for small, multi role fighters like LCA, Mig-29 etc considering the range of their radars. We actually need to bring the 'no escape zone' wider.

 

[sancho]

I understand that. But if DRDO/IAF thinks that it is not capable with other Russian missile systems, why they are going to induct into Su-MKI, which will be our back bone of our AF? They do have trust on Astra systems, which is significantly reduce the limitations of Russian missiles.

I didn't said that they don't have thrust in it, even I have, but unlike many people I don't require it to be superior from the start or even a high end missile. I am happy when it offer similar performance as the current R77s, but are more reliable and easy to produce. It's the same with LCA, where I don't care much if it end up as capable as Gripen NG (although many people will directly make these comparisons), as long as it offer us a reliable and capable base.