Astra missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Astra | |
|---|---|
| Type | Air to Air Missile |
| Place of origin |  India |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | DRDO |
| Produced | May 9, 2003 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 154 kg |
| Length | 3570 mm |
| Diameter | 178 mm |
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| Warhead | 15 kg (33 lb) HE fragmentation directional warhead |
| Detonation mechanism |
Radar proximity fuze |
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| Engine | Solid Fuel Rocket |
| Wingspan | 254 mm |
| Operational range |
80 km head on, 15 km tail chase, over 100 km (eventually) |
| Flight ceiling | 66,000 ft |
| Speed | Mach 4 + |
| Guidance system |
Inertial, mid-course update and terminal active radar (15 km) |
| Launch platform |
Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, Mirage 2000 and Mig-29. |
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Astra[1] (Sanskrit: अस्त्रा, Astrā "Weapon") is an active radar homing Beyond visual range air to air missile (BVRAAM) being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. This is the first air-to-air missile developed by India.
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[edit] Development and Trials
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing this advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to arm the Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000H, MiG-29, Sea Harrier, Su-30MKI, MiG-21 Bison and HAL Tejas fighter aircraft. Astra looks like an elongated Matra Super 530. It uses an in-house developed solid fuel propellant, though DRDO is believed to be looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion similar to that used in its Akash Surface to air missile project. This missile was successfully tested without control and guidance systems on May 9 to May 12, 2003. The missile was again successfully tested on 25 March 2007.[2] On 27 March the vertical launch of the missile was carried out suggesting the use of the missile as a long range surface to air missile for the Indian Navy to arm its destroyers and frigates and for the Indian Air Force.[3] The integration of Astra with the Su-30MKI and HAL Tejas is reported to have started[4][5]
[edit] Description
The range of Astra is 80 km in head-on chase and 15 km in tail chase. The missile's onboard radio-frequency seeker has been designed in India. It will have an active homing range of 15 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead and is fitted with a proximity fuze. A radar fuze already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuze.
[edit] References
- ^ Bharat Rakshak on the Astra missila
- ^ Astra missile test fired from Chandipur. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-03-25.
- ^ Astra test fired again
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/08/stories/2007110855710700.htm Astra missile to be fitted on Su-30MKI.
- ^ Astra missile to be tested soon
[edit] External Links
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