Know about Astra Missile Astra Air-to-Air missile made in India successfully tested

Know about Astra Missile Astra Air-to-Air missile made in India
successfully tested

Astra means Weapon

Astra was first shown to the public at Aero India in December 1998.

May 9 to May 12, 2003 –
Astra Missile was successfully tested without control and guidance systems.



11 January 2010 –
Astra Missile Test Failed
India test-fired Astra in the Chandipur-on-sea area, off the Orissa coast however the test wasn't proved successful.

July 7, 2010 –
Astra Test successful
Tests of Astra missile carried out at both night and daytime under inclement weather conditions were successful.



May 21, 2011 –

On Saturday For the second day in a row, India conducted a successful ballistic flight test of indigenously developed Astra - Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile - from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur

Media has reported that Astra missile was test-fired around 1032 hrs and the trial was successful.

Astra is an active radar homing beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India.

Astra is a high-end tactical missile and is envisaged to intercept enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

The missile is 3.8 metres long and is said to be configured like a longer version of the Super 530D, narrower in front of the wings.

The missile could be launched from different altitudes
It can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km,
44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km
And 21 km when the altitude is sea-level.

Astra Missile will be integrated with Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000H, MiG-29, Sea Harrier, Su-30MKI, MiG-21 Bison and HAL Tejas fighter aircraft

Currently DROD has already started to increase the distance of Astra missile

The Mark 2 version of Astra will have a maximum range of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km.

The Astra is intended to have performance characteristics similar to the AA-12 Adder. The Russian-made Adder has a range of 100 km and files at four times the speed of sound.

Features of Astra Missile –

1. Manufacturer – DRDO India

2. Weight - 154 kg

3. Length -3570 mm

4. Diameter - 178 mm

5. Warhead - 15 kg (33 lb) HE fragmentation directional warhead

6. Engine - Solid Fuel Rocket

7. Operational range – 80 km head on, 20 km tail

8. Speed - Mach 4 +

9. Guidance system - Inertial, mid-course update and terminal active radar homing (15 km)

10. The missile would be capable of turning at a '40 G-plus rate'

11. The missile has an active radar seeker to find targets that is enemy fighter planes

12. Astra is equipped with electronic counter measure capabilities that allow the missile to jam radar signals from an enemy surface-to-air battery to ensure that the Astra is not tracked or shot down.

13. Will be used in fighter planes - Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, PAK FA/ Sukhoi/HAL FGFA, Mirage 2000 and Mig-29.

It’s expected that this year Astra will be inducted into Indian Forces.

Understand how the Astra Missile will work and destroy the enemy Fighter aircraft?

Indian Fighter Plane radar will detect the enemy plane or from ground the Pilot will receive the info regarding enemy plane approaching or crossing Indian Border.

Our Indian Pilot will get this information , quickly the Pilot will start the game plan
Pilot may wait for the plane to come into range of 80 KM.
or he may launch the Astra and using radio link guide the Astra.

when enemy fighter plane will come into range of 80 KM
the Indian Fighter plane pilot will press set the target and press button to launch Astra Missile.

A high-energy propellant quickly boosts the missile to several times the speed of sound.
Astra missile Speed is 4 Mach

If target plane is not in range of 80 Km then Indian fighter pilot will guide the missile and unless and until the enemy plane is in the range of Astra Missile.

Once it’s in the range Astra will take the complete charge, Astra will be ordered to destroy the enemy plane.

As its enemy plane is in the range of Astra will not need guidance from pilot will work independent.

It’s possible that enemy plane will detect the presence of Astra coming to kill him,

And Enemy fighter will start the plane moving up and down and even launch counter missile to destroy Astra in the air.

But Astra got speed of Mach 4 thus Counter attacking missile will need speed more than 4 Mach and Astra can also do the up down and such fighting tricks.
The correct word is maneuvers.

A radio proximity fuse measures the distance to the target and once its in range Astra’s radio proximity fuse detonates its warhead, sending a volley of shrapnel ripping through the enemy fighter.

Astra’s avionics are properly matched with those of the Sukhoi-30MKI.

The fighter should receive the missile’s signals; and the Astra should receive the aircraft’s commands.

See the combination Su 30 MKI and Astra plus Brahmos

If Indian politicians show the will India can hit and destroy both countries same time

We can destroy same time 2 countries we got power to fight and defend

We got Brains, We got Talent, and we got everything

What we lack is Political Will and Support.

Astra 2 will be soon out May be in 2012 Astra 2 will be out.


Reality views by sm –
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Keyword Tag – Astra Missile Made in India DRDO Astra 2 Astra 1