ASTRA MISSILE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has given clearance to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to produce 200 Astra air-to-air missiles for its Su-3O and LCA Tejas fighter aircraft.
Astra Missile
- About: Astra is a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile designed to be mounted on fighter aircraft.
- Development: Indigenously developed by DRDO and manufactured by BDL for the Indian Air Force.
- Target Engagement: Built to engage and destroy high manoeuvrability and supersonic aerial targets.
- Combat Capability: Capable of advanced air combat and engaging multiple high-performance targets.
- Global Ranking: Considered one of the best in its class of air-to-air missile systems.
- Variants: Being developed in multiple variants to meet specific operational requirements.
- Features of ASTRA Mk-I
oDimensions and Weight: Measures 3.6 meters in length with a diameter of 178 mm, and weighs 154 kg.
oRange and Speed: Has a range of 80 to 100 km in a head-on chase and can travel at speeds up to 4.5 Mach (almost hypersonic).
oGuidance System: Utilizes an inertial guidance system with a fiber optic gyroscope and terminal guidance through active radar homing.
oDeveloped by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
oOperational Conditions: Capable of operating in all weather conditions, both day and night, with high reliability and a very high Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP).
