Friday, October 10, 2008

Astra

IOC: 2010

Origin
India

Program Status:
Under Development

Contractor/s
Bharat Dynamics Limited

Applications
Su-30MKI
Tejas

Description: The Astra is a flexible medium- to long-range air-to-air missile intended to equip Indian Air Force's Tejas/LCA, Mirage 2000, Mig-29 and Su-30 tactical fighter aircraft. It has been designed to engage multiple targets at ranges of up to 80 kilometers and flying at altitudes between sea level to 20,000 meters. The Astra missile's flexibility allows for engagement of both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km) using alternative propulsion modes. The guidance system is based on a combination of mid-course inertial guidance and an end game active radar seeker. The Astra missile also features built-in electronic counter countermeasures (ECCM) and smart pre-fragmentation directional warhead detonated by a proximity laser fuze. The Astra air-to-air missile has a top speed in excess of Mach 4 and can maneuver at 40-g load factor. The missile is expected to achieve initial operational capability with the Indian Air Force by 2010. India will develop three variants based on the Astra technology with the range varying from 30 to 110 kilometers.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 178 mm, Length 3.6 m

Weights: Warhead 15 kg (33 lb), Weight 154 kg (340 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 20,000 m (65,617 ft), Max Range 110 km (59 nm), Target's Max Speed Mach 1.40 (1,673 kph), Top Speed Mach 4 (4,780 kph)

G Loads: Max Maneuvering Load Factor 40 g

News
Astra Air-to-Air Missile Tested Successfully in Experimental Flights

Operators

India / Planned

Internet Resources
Astra

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008

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