Astra BVR Air-to-Air Missile
2020 JUL 3
Preliminary >
Security > Border area management > Missile defence systems
IN NEWS:
- Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh cleared a proposal to acquire more astra missiles of the Indian airforce.
ABOUT ASTRA BVR AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE:
- Astra is an all-weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Astra missile is developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Capabilities:
- It can intercept and destroy enemy targets with a launch speed between Mach 0.4 and Mach 2.
- It is intended to engage and destroy aerial targets with high maneuverability and supersonic speeds.
- Launch range and launch altitudes of the weapon system are 80km and 20km respectively.
- It is powered by a smokeless, single stage, solid fuel propulsion system.
Application:
- Astra has been integrated with Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI and will be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000 and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future.
WHAT IS A BEYOND VISUAL RANGE MISSILE?
- A beyond-visual-range missile (BVR) is an air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) that is capable of engaging at ranges of 37 km or beyond.
- In addition to the range capability, the missile must also be capable of tracking its target at this range or of acquiring the target in flight.
PRELIMS QUESTION:
Q. "Astra”, with reference to the defense sector, is a type of:
- Air to Air missiles
- Multi Barrel Rocket launcher
- Unmanned aerial combat vehicle
- Main Battle Tank
Answer to Prelims question