New Delhi. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started inducting Astra, the indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) Air Marshal BS Dhanoa told newsmen March 10 that the missile had been integrated on SU-30 MKI aircraft after several tests, and that its first public demonstration would be held in Exercise Iron Fist in the Pokhran test range in India’s western state of Rajasthan March 18.
He did not disclose the range however. Although the induction has started on Su-30 MKIs, the missile will gradually be integrated on other aircraft also, including on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) now under development.
BVR is a complex missile as it has to seek and follow a fast moving jet aircraft and lock onto it with its radar till the target is hit. BVR uses Ramjet technology, to make it much faster than the target it chases.
So far, only the US, Russia, China and the France-based European consortium (MBDA) have this technology. MBDA’s Meteor BVR will be onboard the Rafale combat jet the IAF is negotiating to buy from France, but its technology will not be available.
The range of Meteor is believed to be around 120 km, nearly twice the reported range of Astra.
It has taken India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) some 10 years to develop the Astra, which means weapon in Hindi. According to DRDO Chief Dr S Christopher, the system is being refined to reach a range of 100 km or more.
