Astra (missile): Difference between revisions

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<!-- Explosive specifications -->| filling            = [[High-explosive]] pre-[[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmented]] [[HMX]]/[[Polyurethane|PU]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aroor |first1=Shiv |title=How India's ASTRA Air-To-Air Missile Is Quietly Killing It |url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2018/03/how-indias-astra-air-to-air-missile-is-quietly-killing-it.html |website=Livefist Defence |date=24 March 2018 |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref>

| speed              = [[Mach number|Mach]] 4.5<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhardwaj |first1=Tarun |title=Deadly weapon! IAF successfully test-fires air-to-air missile Astra from Sukhoi-30 combat aircrafts [sic]|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/deadly-weapon-iaf-successfully-test-fires-air-to-air-missile-astra-from-sukhoi-30-combat-aircrafts/1708799/ |access-date=30 August 2020 |publisher=Financial Express |date=17 September 2022}}</ref>

<!-- For all -->| ref                = <ref name="janes-6sep17">{{cite news|last1=Bedi|first1=Rahul|title=BDL begins initial build of Astra Mk1 BVRAAM|url=http://www.janes.com/article/73576/bdl-begins-initial-build-of-astra-mk1-bvraam|work=IHS Jane's Missiles & Rockets|publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]]|date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906221508/http://www.janes.com/article/73576/bdl-begins-initial-build-of-astra-mk1-bvraam|archive-date=6 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=M. Somasekhar|title=Jaitley hands over long-range surface-to-air missile to Navy|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/jaitley-hands-over-longrange-surfacetoair-missile-to-navy/article9832349.ece|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|date=27 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="vayu-sep15"/><ref name="thehindu-22may15">{{cite news|title=Astra missile successfully tested again|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/astra-missile-successfully-testfired-again/article7233219.ece|author=Y. Mallikarjun|work=[[The Hindu]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|date=22 May 2015|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":01">{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1635916|title=DAC approves capital acquisition of various platforms & equipment worth Rs 38,900 crore|publisher=PIB India|access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>

'''Astra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: "weapon"<ref>{{cite news|title=India tests air-to-air Astra missile again|agency=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]]|date=26 March 2007|via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>) is an Indian family of all weather [[Beyond Visual Range missile|beyond-visual-range]] [[air-to-air missile]], developed by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]. The missile is capable of engaging targets at varying ranges from a distance of {{convert|500|m|mi|abbr=on}} up to {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What is Astra Missile ? |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/what-is-astra-missile#collapse |access-date=2022-07-25}}</ref> Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with [[Indian Air Force|Indian Air Force's]] [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI]] and will be integrated with [[Dassault Mirage 2000]], [[HAL Tejas]] and [[Mikoyan MiG-29]] in the future. Limited series production of Astra Mk-1 missiles began in 2017.<ref name="janes-6sep17"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rout|first1=Hemant Kumar|title=Indian Air Force likely to start trials of Astra missile from today|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/aug/31/indian-air-force-likely-to-start-trials-of-astra-missile-from-today-1650442.html|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|publisher=Express Publications (Madurai)|date=31 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/astra-missile-test-successful-more-power-to-the-iafs-fighter-planes/1328010/|title=Astra Missile Test successful: More power to the IAF's fighter planes|date=2018-09-26|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref>

Astra Mk-1 is {{convert|3.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} long with a diameter of {{convert|178|mm|in|abbr=on}} and weighs {{convert|154|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. It uses mid-course [[Inertial navigation system|inertial guidance]] driven by [[fibre optic gyroscope]] with [[terminal guidance]] through [[active radar homing]].<ref name="toi-5may14">{{cite news |last1=Pandit |first1=Rajat |title=First successful Astra test gives boost to air missile technology |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/First-successful-Astra-test-gives-boost-to-air-missile-technology/articleshow/34652986.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|publisher=[[The Times Group]]|date=5 May 2022}}</ref> It is capable of receiving course corrections through a secure data link. The missile's active radar seeker, with a homing range of {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}}, was designed by Russia's [[Concern Morinformsystem-Agat]] but manufactured within India.<ref name="vayu-sep15">{{cite magazine|last1=Majumdar|first1=Sayan|title=Astra – The Spear for Air Dominance|url=http://www.vayuaerospace.in/Issue/vayu-issue-Vayu-Issue-V-Sep-Oct-2015.pdf|magazine=Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review|date=September–October 2015|issue=5|pages=56–57|publisher=Society for Aerospace Studies}}</ref> The seeker can lock-on to a target with a radar cross section of 5 square metres from a distance of 15&nbsp;km and enables off-boresight launches up to an angle of 45°.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Richardson|first1=Doug|title=India's Astra uses an AGAT seeker|journal=IHS Jane's Missiles and Rockets|date=1 April 2017|volume=17|issue=4|publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]]|location=Coulsdon}}</ref> Some tests have been conducted in 2017 and 2018 using an indigenous seeker developed by [[Research Centre Imarat]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=U. Sudhakar |title=Final trials of air-to-air missile Astra successful |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/160917/final-trials-of-air-to-air-missile-astra-successful-1.html |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=16 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="scd-report41" /><ref name="ht-26sep18">{{cite news |title=Indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra successfully test fired |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indigenously-developed-air-to-air-missile-astra-successfully-test-fired/story-1KXLnNJoMeaoOVovnlh5KI.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |publisher=[[HT Media]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=26 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jdw-6may14">{{cite news|last1=Udoshi|first1=Rahul|title=India successfully tests home-grown Astra AAM |url=http://www.janes.com/article/37521/india-successfully-tests-home-grown-astra-aam |work=[[IHS Jane's Defence Weekly]]|publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]]|date=6 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517051207/http://www.janes.com/article/37521/india-successfully-tests-home-grown-astra-aam|archive-date=17 May 2022}}</ref>

Astra Mk-1 is equipped with [[electronic counter-countermeasure]]s to allow operation even during enemy attempts to jam the seeker using [[electronic countermeasure]]s. It carries a {{convert|15|kg|lb|abbr=on}} [[high explosive]] pre-fragmented warhead activated by a [[proximity fuse]].<ref name="vayu-sep15" /> It uses a smokeless solid fuelled motor that can propel the missile to a speed of Mach 4.5 and allows operation from a maximum altitude of {{convert|20|km|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="thehindu-22may15" /><ref name="vayu-sep15" /> Its maximum range is {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} in tail chase mode and {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}} in head on chase mode.<ref name="thbl-18sep17">{{cite news |author1=M. Somasekhar |date=18 September 2017 |title=After successful development trials, Astra missile ready for production |language=en |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |publisher=[[The Hindu Group]] |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/after-successful-development-trials-astra-missile-ready-for-production/article9864087.ece}}</ref> The maximum range is achieved when the missile launched from an altitude of {{convert|15|km|ft|abbr=on}}. When it is fired from an altitude of {{convert|8|km|ft|abbr=on}}, the range drops to {{convert|44|km|mi|abbr=on}} and when it is launched from sea level, the range drops further to {{convert|21|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="thehindu-22dec12">{{cite news|author1=Y. Mallikarjun|author2=T. S. Subramanian|title=Astra missile test-fired successfully|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Astra-missile-test-fired-successfully/article12457627.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|date=22 December 2012|language=en-IN}}</ref> Astra's low [[Aspect ratio (aeronautics)|aspect ratio]] wings allow it to engage manoeuvring targets up to a range of {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} in head-on chase mode and {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} in tail chase mode.<ref name="vayu-sep15" /> It can be launched in both autonomous and buddy mode operation and can lock on to its target before or [[Lock-on after launch|after]] it is launched.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jha|first=Saurav|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/sauravjha/2976/64918/drdos-international-coming-out-party-in-seoul-features-new-pragati-tactical-missile-system.html|title=DRDO's international coming out party in Seoul features new Pragati tactical missile system|publisher=IBNLive|date=26 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029132054/http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/sauravjha/2976/64918/drdos-international-coming-out-party-in-seoul-features-new-pragati-tactical-missile-system.html|archive-date=29 October 2022}}</ref>

Preliminary work on Astra Mk-1 had begun by 1990 with the completion of a pre-feasibility study.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Beech|first=Eric|date=2–8 May 1990|title=India researches air-to-air missile|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1990/1990%20-%201243.PDF|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|volume=137|issue=4214|page=15|issn=0015-3710|magazine=[[Flight International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021555/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1990/1990%20-%201243.PDF|archive-date=11 Mar 2022}}</ref> It was revealed to the public for the first time at Aero India 1998.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gethin|first=Howard|date=16–22 December 1998|title=India unveils Astra but keeps wraps on LCA|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1998/1998%20-%203358.PDF|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|magazine=[[Flight International]]}}</ref> It was described as an elongated [[Super 530|Matra Super 530D]] with a smaller diameter in front of the wings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Astra-test-may-be-delayed/articleshow/6009784.cms|title=Astra test may be delayed|date=6 April 2002|work=[[The Times of India]]|publisher=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref> The project to develop the missile was officially sanctioned in 2004 with a budget of {{INRConvert|955|c|year=2022}}.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pandit|first1=Rajat|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/10-years-in-making-Astra-advanced-air-combat-missile-may-be-ready-in-2016/articleshow/49682035.cms|title=10 years in making, Astra advanced air combat missile may be ready in 2016|date=6 November 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|publisher=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref> The project was to be led by [[Defence Research and Development Laboratory]] with assistance from [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] and [[Electronics Corporation of India Limited]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=M. Somasekhar|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/2004/06/17/stories/2004061702730500.htm|title=DRDL to develop Astra missile|date=17 June 2004|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]}}</ref> The initial version of Astra Mk-1 reportedly weighed {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} with a range of {{convert|25|–|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} and was planned to be integrated with [[HAL Tejas]]. It was tested for the first time in May 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=T. S. Subramanian|date=24 May – 6 June 2003|title=An Astra in the armoury|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2011/stories/20030606003509800.htm|magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|volume=20|issue=11|issn=0970-1710}}</ref>

VL-SRSAM supersedes the cancelled [[Maitri (missile)|Maitri missile]] project undertaken jointly by [[MBDA]] and [[DRDO]] based on the work done on [[MICA (missile)|MICA]] and [[Trishul (missile)|Trishul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rout|first=Hemant Kumar|date=23 February 2021|title=DRDO conducts successful flight test of VL-SRSAM|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/feb/23/drdo-conducts-successful-flight-test-of-vl-srsam-2267748.html|access-date=2021-02-23|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The missile will arm Indian Navy ships like [[Kamorta-class corvette]] with short range air defense system. The missile use [[Thrust vectoring#Exhaust vanes|jet vane based thrust vectoring]] control to give high maneuverability to the missile. The missile maybe guided by [[Central acquisition radar (3D-CAR)|Revathi radar]] which is extensively being used in Indian Navy ship like [[Kamorta-class corvette]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/indian-navys-ship-based-air-defence-missile-contest-begins-today/|title=Indian Navy's Ship-based Air Defence Missile Contest Begins Today|publisher=Livefist|date=17 October 2022}}</ref>

[[Indian Air Force]] may also sport VL-SRSAM in truck-based launcher to supplement its [[Akash (missile)|Akash surface-to-air missile]] as a quick reaction system similar to Norwegian/American [[NASAMS#NASAMS 2|NASAM 2]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-16 |title=India concerned over 'very high price' of American missile shield for Delhi |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-concerned-over-very-high-price-of-american-missile-shield-for-delhi-11581863130642.html |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/not-keen-on-nasams-ii-iaf-wants-indian-missile-defence/|title=Not Keen On NASAMS-II, IAF Wants Indian Missile Defence|publisher=Livefist|date=20 July 2022}}</ref>

Astra Mk-1 went through a series of ground tests from 2003 till 2012 in three different configurations to validate the airframe, propulsion system, control system, dual mode guidance and night firing capability. Carriage trials were carried out in 2009 and 2013 on Sukhoi Su-30MKI.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tur|first1=Jatinder Kaur|title='Astra' carriage trials with Su-30 begins|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Astra-carriage-trials-with-Su-30-begins/articleshow/26955534.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|publisher=[[The Times Group]]|date=6 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/Captive-flight-trials-of-Astra-missile-carried-out/article16889657.ece|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|first=Ravi|last=Sharma|title=Captive flight trials of Astra missile carried out|date=1 November 2022}}</ref> In May 2014, it was fired for the first time in air.<ref name="thehindu-4may14">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Astra-successfully-test-fired-from-Sukhoi-30-MKI/article11626648.ece|title=Astra successfully test-fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI|author=Y. Mallikarjun|date=4 May 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 18 March 2015, it successfully performed manoeuvre of upto 30g while engaging the target.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2015 |title=India’s BVR Air-to-Air Missile ‘ASTRA’ Successfully Test Fired |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=117420 |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=Press Information Bureau}}</ref> The missile was fired in public during [[Iron Fist (exercise)#Iron Fist 2016|Iron Fist 2016]] exercise from Sukhoi Su-30MKI.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chopra|first1=Anil|title=Iron Fist 2016: Indian Air Force's greatest show of air power|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/column-iron-fist-2016-indian-air-force-s-greatest-show-of-air-power-2191190|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=19 March 2022}}</ref> During a series of seven tests in September 2017, Astra Mk-1 was tested twice with an indigenous seeker.<ref name="scd-report41">{{cite web|title=Forty first report of the Standing Committee on Defence (2017–2018)|url=http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Defence/16_Defence_41.pdf|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|location=New Delhi|page=59|date=March 2022}}</ref> During user trials in 2019, it hit a target at a distance of {{cvt|90|km}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAF, DRDO carry out test firing of Astra air-to-air missile |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/iaf-drdo-carry-out-test-firing-of-astra-air-to-air-missile-119091801432_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=18 September 2022}}</ref>