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Astra (missile)
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Astra (missile)
Astra (Sanskrit: "Weapon") is a family of Indian all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Multiple variants of this missile have been developed with engagement range varying from 500 m (0.31 mi) to 340 km (210 mi). Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet. The missile will be integrated with the entire fighter fleet except the Dassault Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force as well as the Dassault Rafale fleet of the Navy. In 2024, the missile was cleared for full production.
Astra Mk-1 is 3.6 m (12 ft) long with a diameter of 178 mm (7.0 in) and weighs 154 kg (340 lb). It uses mid-course inertial guidance driven by fibre-optic gyroscope with terminal guidance through active radar homing. It is capable of receiving course corrections through a secure data link. The missile's active radar seeker, with a homing range of 25 km (16 mi), was originally designed by Russia's Concern Morinformsystem-Agat for the R-77 missile but manufactured within India. The seeker can lock-on to a target with a radar cross section of 5 square metres from a distance of 15 km and enables off-boresight launches up to an angle of 45°. Some tests in 2017 and 2018 validated an indigenous seeker replacing the earlier seeker. It is an improved active Ku, X band monopulse radio-frequency seeker developed by Research Center Imarat.
Astra Mk-1 is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures to allow operation even during enemy attempts to jam the seeker using electronic countermeasures. It carries a 15 kg (33 lb) high explosive pre-fragmented warhead activated by a DRDO-developed laser proximity fuse. 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 20 km (66,000 ft). Its maximum range is 20 km (12 mi) in tail chase mode and 110 km (68 mi) in head-on chase mode. The maximum range is achieved when the missile launched from an altitude of over 15 km (49,000 ft). However, the maximum range of the missile when fired from an altitude of 8 km (26,000 ft) drops to 44 km (27 mi) and when launched from sea level, the range drops further to 21 km (13 mi). The seeker of the missile has a search range of 25 km (16 mi). The airframe can also handle up to 40g of lateral acceleration (latax). It can be launched in both autonomous and buddy mode operation and can lock on to its target before or after it is launched.
The Astra Mk-2 has a maximum range of 130–160 km (81–99 mi) depending on the firing altitude. Upgrades includes an in-house developed dual-pulse rocket motor, laser proximity fuze and an indigenous AESA radar seeker among others. As per reports in 2015, the expected maximum range of the missile was 150 km (93 mi) while featuring shorter fins.
According to a October 2025 report, the missile is now planned to have a maximum range of over 200 km. The propulsion system is modified for enhanced thrust is and trajectory shaping optimized to provide longer endurance.
The missile will also reportedly incorporate technology from the Chinese-origin PL-15E missile that was recovered by the Indian forces in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab during 2025 India–Pakistan conflict and later studied by DRDO. The missile was recovered in a fully intact form due to a lack of self destruct technology.
The Gandiva missile, previously Astra Mark-3, incorporate an air-breathing propulsion system designated as Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet setting it apart from the predecessors. By dimensions, the missile has a length of 3,838 mm (12.592 ft) and a diameter of 178–200 mm (7.0–7.9 in). This throttlable propulsion system significantly improves the range of the missile at 340 km (210 mi) at 20 km (66,000 ft) altitude and a range of 190 km (120 mi) at 8 km (26,000 ft) altitude. As per reports, the missile's launch speed ranges from Mach 0.8 to 2.2 while the target hit speed ranges from Mach 2.0 to 3.6. It can engage highly maneuverable fighter aircraft with high angle of attack of up to 20 degrees. With its "±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability" the missile allows the pilots to engage targets at both higher or lower altitudes with respect to the firing aircraft. The missile utilises a two-way data link for mid-course guidance from the launch aircraft or friendly AEW&C aircraft and also employs electronic counter-countermeasures.
Preliminary work on Astra Mk-1 had begun by 1990 with the completion of a pre-feasibility study. It was revealed to the public for the first time at Aero India 1998. It was described as an elongated Matra Super 530D with a smaller diameter in front of the wings. The project to develop the missile was officially sanctioned in 2004 with a budget of ₹955 crore (equivalent to ₹34 billion or US$400 million in 2023). The project was to be led by Defence Research and Development Laboratory with assistance from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. The initial version of Astra Mk-1 reportedly weighed 300 kg (660 lb) with a range of 25–40 km (16–25 mi) and was planned to be integrated with HAL Tejas. It was tested for the first time in May 2003.
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Astra (missile)
Astra (Sanskrit: "Weapon") is a family of Indian all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Multiple variants of this missile have been developed with engagement range varying from 500 m (0.31 mi) to 340 km (210 mi). Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet. The missile will be integrated with the entire fighter fleet except the Dassault Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force as well as the Dassault Rafale fleet of the Navy. In 2024, the missile was cleared for full production.
Astra Mk-1 is 3.6 m (12 ft) long with a diameter of 178 mm (7.0 in) and weighs 154 kg (340 lb). It uses mid-course inertial guidance driven by fibre-optic gyroscope with terminal guidance through active radar homing. It is capable of receiving course corrections through a secure data link. The missile's active radar seeker, with a homing range of 25 km (16 mi), was originally designed by Russia's Concern Morinformsystem-Agat for the R-77 missile but manufactured within India. The seeker can lock-on to a target with a radar cross section of 5 square metres from a distance of 15 km and enables off-boresight launches up to an angle of 45°. Some tests in 2017 and 2018 validated an indigenous seeker replacing the earlier seeker. It is an improved active Ku, X band monopulse radio-frequency seeker developed by Research Center Imarat.
Astra Mk-1 is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures to allow operation even during enemy attempts to jam the seeker using electronic countermeasures. It carries a 15 kg (33 lb) high explosive pre-fragmented warhead activated by a DRDO-developed laser proximity fuse. 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 20 km (66,000 ft). Its maximum range is 20 km (12 mi) in tail chase mode and 110 km (68 mi) in head-on chase mode. The maximum range is achieved when the missile launched from an altitude of over 15 km (49,000 ft). However, the maximum range of the missile when fired from an altitude of 8 km (26,000 ft) drops to 44 km (27 mi) and when launched from sea level, the range drops further to 21 km (13 mi). The seeker of the missile has a search range of 25 km (16 mi). The airframe can also handle up to 40g of lateral acceleration (latax). It can be launched in both autonomous and buddy mode operation and can lock on to its target before or after it is launched.
The Astra Mk-2 has a maximum range of 130–160 km (81–99 mi) depending on the firing altitude. Upgrades includes an in-house developed dual-pulse rocket motor, laser proximity fuze and an indigenous AESA radar seeker among others. As per reports in 2015, the expected maximum range of the missile was 150 km (93 mi) while featuring shorter fins.
According to a October 2025 report, the missile is now planned to have a maximum range of over 200 km. The propulsion system is modified for enhanced thrust is and trajectory shaping optimized to provide longer endurance.
The missile will also reportedly incorporate technology from the Chinese-origin PL-15E missile that was recovered by the Indian forces in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab during 2025 India–Pakistan conflict and later studied by DRDO. The missile was recovered in a fully intact form due to a lack of self destruct technology.
The Gandiva missile, previously Astra Mark-3, incorporate an air-breathing propulsion system designated as Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet setting it apart from the predecessors. By dimensions, the missile has a length of 3,838 mm (12.592 ft) and a diameter of 178–200 mm (7.0–7.9 in). This throttlable propulsion system significantly improves the range of the missile at 340 km (210 mi) at 20 km (66,000 ft) altitude and a range of 190 km (120 mi) at 8 km (26,000 ft) altitude. As per reports, the missile's launch speed ranges from Mach 0.8 to 2.2 while the target hit speed ranges from Mach 2.0 to 3.6. It can engage highly maneuverable fighter aircraft with high angle of attack of up to 20 degrees. With its "±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability" the missile allows the pilots to engage targets at both higher or lower altitudes with respect to the firing aircraft. The missile utilises a two-way data link for mid-course guidance from the launch aircraft or friendly AEW&C aircraft and also employs electronic counter-countermeasures.
Preliminary work on Astra Mk-1 had begun by 1990 with the completion of a pre-feasibility study. It was revealed to the public for the first time at Aero India 1998. It was described as an elongated Matra Super 530D with a smaller diameter in front of the wings. The project to develop the missile was officially sanctioned in 2004 with a budget of ₹955 crore (equivalent to ₹34 billion or US$400 million in 2023). The project was to be led by Defence Research and Development Laboratory with assistance from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. The initial version of Astra Mk-1 reportedly weighed 300 kg (660 lb) with a range of 25–40 km (16–25 mi) and was planned to be integrated with HAL Tejas. It was tested for the first time in May 2003.
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