Indian Missile News And Discussion

[Arun_S]

[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5434798,prtpage-1.cms"]Astra tested, but no induction yet: Rajat Pandit, TNN, 12 January 2010[/url]

NEW DELHI: The long-delayed ‘Astra’ air-to-air missile was tested twice from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa on Monday but the fact remains that the much-touted missile is still far from becoming operational.



For one, the beyond visual range (BVR) missile’s ‘captive flight trials’ from a fighter jet like the Sukhoi-30MKI are yet to begin despite DRDO having earlier promised they would start from July 2008. For another, even after these trials kick off, it will take another couple of years and 20-40 tests for Astra-I, with a 45-km strike range, to be dubbed fully-operational. The 80-km range Astra-II will only follow thereafter.



The tests on Monday were, after all, from underslung ground launchers, not from fighters flying at supersonic speeds. “At 160 kg, the 3.7-metre long Astra is very heavy compared to other BVR missiles. Its integration with even heavyweight fighters like Sukhois poses problems,” said a source.



IAF desperately needs indigenous BVR missiles since the days of close-range dogfights are fast receding. In modern-day air combat, fighters often use BVR missiles to destroy enemy aircraft at ranges over 40 km away, without coming anywhere close to each other.



Consequently, India is forced to import from Russia, France and Israel huge quantities of expensive BVR missiles like AA-12 Adder, Matra Super 530D and Derby to arm its fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s and MiG-29s.