ASTRA MISSILE (AIR-TO-AIR)

[XEROX]

The indian air to air missile named ASTRA (BVR) which will become opeartional within many (soon) years sounds very promising and laments the strides made by the indians in terms of missile tech


the missile itself covers 80 km distance and will weigh 150 kg, making it the lightest in its class.

How does this missile compare with others in its class

 

[lalith prasad]

ok ,it will match latest chinese missiles. It was fired in he sam mode to a range of 40kms and has m4+ speed.ultimately a ramjet version of this missile with a range of 160kms will be developed.a photo of this missile besides further information is available on bharat -rakshak.com .derby has arange of 60kms and a speed of m4.6 .india is also developing the ks 172 missile jointly with russia having a 400km range and m5 speed it will be the next missile project to be undertaken by the the brahmos corporation.also i hope india joins russia in developing the 100km range anti tank missile(hermes) .

 

[XEROX]

well its gonna be designed for LCA

 

[srirangan]

Can it be used with the other fighters of the IAF? How robust will the design be is my question..

 

[XEROX]

You know Sri, I think the ASTRA missile is being exclusively developed for the LCA, but I think it could be implemented onto the SU-30MKI and maybe Mirage series platform,

The primary air to air armament for both the SU and Mirage is AA-12 Adder and medium-range Super 530D respectively

I also believe it will be logical for DRDO or whoever is producing this missile to develop a more sophisticated version of ASTRA for the future MCA project

 

[XEROX]

What we have to realise about the ASTRA missile is that it weighs only 150 KG, and what makes the LCA so special is that it can have a full armament of 4000 KG, so it bodes well with the LCA, “L†standing for light

 

[brahmos]

At bharat rakshak it said IAF plans to equip Mirage 2000, Mig-29, Su-30MKI, and LCA.

http://bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Astra.html

 

[srirangan]

Wll it also be available for sale?

 

[XEROX]

I think the ASTRA missile will be sold with or without the LCA for exportation

 

[srirangan]

Ah his is good, one more inventory in our production line that will fetch us $$$ :smokingc:

 

[brahmos]

I am waiting for the first production line to open for IAF.

 

[RealIndian]

Astra's three ground tests completed successfully.

 

[XEROX]

Its a sleek missile!!
:smokingc:

 

[RealIndian]

New image from Defexpo

 

[RealIndian]

ASTRA mission Specification

 

[gf0012-aust]

Anyone got more detailed specs on it? eg what it's G rate is?

Interesting to see that the USAF is fielding new G suits for the Raptor pilots that will keep them happy up to 11g. Mindboggling stuff. That makes the Raptor able to out "g" a lot of the current missile crop.

From here on in I guess we'll be seeing UCAV's though. They'll be the only thing that can realistically turn with a missile.

 

[XEROX]

Hey gf0012, does the raptor have same anti - gravity tech such as the B-2

 

[XEROX]

and yes - The missile has a maximum speed of Mach 4+ and a maximum altitude of 20 km. The missile can reportedly undertake 40 g turns close to sea level, when attacking a manoeuvring target. Although designed to use a locally-developed solid fuel propellant, DRDO is also looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion to provide greater range and enhanced kinematic performance

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Astra.html

 

[XEROX]

Does anyone how will the ASTRA missile compares with the American AIM-120 AMRAAM and Chinese PL-12 missile? :?

 

[RealIndian]

About ASTRA : From various sources....

A DRDO missile technologist explained that if the enemy aircraft were to fly close, it would be registered in the cockpit of the LCA. If the enemy aircraft were to fly, say 10 km away, it cannot be detected by the instruments in the cockpit. So it is beyond visual range; only radar signals will be received. The enemy aircraft too would be moving at a high speed. Astra would adjust its own speed to that of the enemy aircraft and home in on it.


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Significantly, the Astra can be launched even before its intended target is in visual range. Its sophisticated electronics then guide it to the target while helping it to avoid detection by enemy radars.


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The ambitious multi-million dollar programme called the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), launched in 1982-83, has travelled a long way and is set to enter an exciting new phase which will see the development of ASTRA — the beyond visual range missiles, technology upgradation to have precision missiles with seek and "hit to kill" capabilities.

Today, sending a warhead on a missile any distance, anywhere is behind us. We are working on ASTRA, the beyond the visual range (BVR) missile, which on detecting a signal can be launched to seek and home in on a target. One flight is expected to be undertaken at the end of 2004. A formal project sanction is expected now and will take at least three-four years to complete development work. ASTRA will have a RF seeker. Interestingly, an LCA interface has also been worked out.

(Dr V. K. Saraswat, Director, Research Centre Imarat in an interview)

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Astra specifications:

Length: 3570 mm

Body Diameter: 178 mm

Wing Span: N/A

Launch Weight: 154 kg.

Warhead: 15 kg pre-fragmented directional.

Fuze: Radar Proximity (laser proximity to follow).

Guidance: A combination of inertial mid-course guidance with data-linked targeting updates , active-radar terminal homing.

Propulsion: Solid rocket motor (ramjet propulsion to follow).

Speed: Mach 4+

Maximum altitude: 20 km

Range: 100 km , 15 km tail chase.